Casino Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Casino Tower |
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| Former names | Oneida Tower, Kodak Tower |
| General information | |
| Status | Standing but no public access |
| Location | 5705 Falls Ave Niagara Falls, Ontario L2E 6T3 |
| Completed | June 1964 |
| Height | 108 m (355 ft) |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Open Steel Truss |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Alan R. Moody |
The Casino Tower is a tall building in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada. It stands 355 feet (108 meters) high and is made of steel. This tower was once known as the Oneida Tower and later the Kodak Tower.
An architect named Alan R. Moody designed the tower. It was built very quickly in just six months during 1964. A company called Frankel Steel Company of Toronto constructed it.
Over the years, the tower's name changed. In 1974, it was called the Niagara Tower. Then, in 1985, it became a main part of the Maple Leaf Village Shopping Complex and was renamed the "Kodak Tower."
Today, the tower is known as the "Casino Tower." It has a new look to match the nearby casino. It acts like a giant sign for the casino. However, people cannot go inside the tower anymore because it is not safe for visitors.
Contents
Early Days: The Oneida Tower
The tower was first known as the Oneida Tower. This name came from a group called the Oneida Community.
The Oneida Community Story
The Oneida Community started in 1848 in Oneida, New York. It was a special group led by John Humphrey Noyes. They lived together and shared everything.
Around 1877, some members of this community began making and selling iron spoons. This helped them earn money. The Oneida Community eventually broke apart in 1880.
However, a part of the Oneida group kept making spoons. Under the leadership of John Noyes' family, they started the Oneida Silversmith Factory in Niagara Falls in 1926. They owned a large area of land near Clifton Hill. Here, they built their factory and offices.
The Kodak Tower Era
In 1974, the Oneida company moved its offices. Then, two companies, York Hannover Developments and Worst holdings, invested a lot of money to build an amusement park. This park was built on the land where the Oneida factory used to be.
Maple Leaf Village Amusement Park
The amusement park was called Maple Leaf Village. It was built around the tower. The park had three floors and featured many fun things. There was a movie theater with several screens. It also had different attractions over the years, like a "That's Incredible!" museum and an Elvis Presley Museum.
Maple Leaf Village also had many souvenir and clothing shops. There was a tavern and club called Lillie Langtry's. Later, a famous Canadian comedy club, Yuk Yuk's, opened there.
Outside, on the north side of the property, there was a carnival area. This area included a very large Ferris wheel. Both the Ferris wheel and the tower, now called the Kodak Tower, stood out in the Niagara Falls skyline.
Popularity and Decline
The Maple Leaf Village was very popular for many years. It attracted large crowds as part of the Clifton Hill tourist area.
However, over time, fewer people visited. Shops started to close, and some main businesses moved to other places. The Kodak Tower itself became unsafe. Because of this, it closed to the public in the early 1990s.
The entire amusement park closed at the end of the 1992 season. In early 1993, the giant Ferris wheel was taken apart. It was then sent to Asia to be used there.
By January 1994, only a few shops were still open in the large three-story building. The area needed to be redeveloped. Many shops now preferred to be on the street for easier access. The Maple Leaf Village Mall closed for good on February 1, 1995.
Casino Niagara Takes Over
Casino Niagara, which is a casino owned by the government, opened in the building on December 7, 1996. It is still open today.
The casino was first meant to be a temporary location. However, a new, larger casino, the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, was built nearby. So, the Casino Niagara site stayed open permanently.
The Tower's Current Look
The tower was given white panels to match the more upscale casino. Large red letters spelling "C-A-S-I-N-O" were placed vertically on its side. These letters light up at night.
Even though it looks new, the tower is still not open to the public. It is considered unsafe. Some local people think the tower looks bad. You can see rust on the steel parts under the outer panels. There are no plans to open the tower to visitors again.
