Lake Placid Tower facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Placid Tower |
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Southwest corner
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| Former names | Placid Tower Tower of Peace Happiness Tower |
| General information | |
| Status | Abandoned |
| Type | Observation tower |
| Address | 467 US HWY 27 N |
| Town or city | Lake Placid, Florida |
| Coordinates | 27°18′3.7″N 81°21′26.1″W / 27.301028°N 81.357250°W |
| Elevation | 142 feet (43 m) |
| Construction started | 1960 |
| Construction stopped | 1960 |
| Opened | January 1, 1961 |
| Closed | c. November 6, 2003 |
| Cost | $350,000 (equivalent to $2,500,000 in 2021) |
| Owner | CHL Tower Group |
| Height | |
| Architectural | 240 feet (73 m) |
| Tip | 250 feet (76 m) |
| Observatory | 225 feet (68.6 m) 200 feet (61.0 m) 192 feet (58.5 m) |
| Dimensions | |
| Diameter | 25 feet 4 inches (7.72 m) square |
| Technical details | |
| Material | Concrete block Limestone tile Reinforced concrete |
| Lifts/elevators | 1 |
| Grounds | 2.27 acres (0.92 ha) |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | A. Wynn Howell |
| Developer | Air View Corporation (Earnest Oakley Hunt and Robert Gray) |
| Main contractor | Ridge Builders |
The Lake Placid Tower is a tall, closed observation tower located in Lake Placid, Florida. It was once known by other names like Placid Tower, Tower of Peace, and Happiness Tower. This tower stands about 240 feet (73.2 m) tall.
The tower was built so people could go up and see amazing views of the area. It has three main viewing levels. These levels offer different ways to look out. One level is behind windows, another is an open-air balcony, and the highest is an open-air "crow's nest." From the top, you could see for about 40 miles (65 km) in every direction!
Contents
Building the Tower
Who Dreamed It Up?
The idea for the Lake Placid Tower came from a man named Earnest Oakley Hunt. He first thought about building an observation tower in 1938. Later, in 1947, he found the perfect spot in Lake Placid, Florida.
Mr. Hunt teamed up with Robert Gray. Together, they created a company called Air View Corporation. Their goal was to build this impressive tower.
How Was It Built?
The tower was designed by an architect named A. Wynn Howell. It was built by Ridge Builders in 1960. The cost to build it was $350,000. The tower officially opened its doors on January 1, 1961.
Many people say it was the tallest building made of concrete blocks in the world when it opened. It used about 90,000 concrete blocks. Some sources also mention it had 100,000 limestone blocks from Ocala, Florida. The tower's base is square, measuring about 25 feet 4 inches (7.72 m) on each side.
The tower's foundation is very strong. It was made with a lot of concrete and steel. At the very top, there is a special gold-colored aluminum decoration.
Life of the Tower
Why Did It Close?
The Lake Placid Tower faced some challenges. It closed in 1982 because not enough tickets were sold. The owners also had trouble paying their taxes.
However, the tower reopened in 1986. Even then, it struggled to attract enough visitors. It tried different things, like having a petting zoo nearby. It even had a pay phone at the top, which was called the "highest pay phone in Florida."
New Owners and Changes
The last owner who ran the tower as a tourist spot was Mark Cambell. He owned it from 1992. In 2003, he sold it to a company called CHL Tower Group.
CHL Tower Group used the tower as a cell phone tower until 2019. Even though it stopped being a tourist attraction around 2003, it still has two red "OPEN" signs at its top.
After it closed to visitors, the tower's look changed. The upper part of the tower was repainted white and blue-green. Panels were added that covered the open areas, blocking the bird's eye view. The restaurant at the base of the tower closed in 2015.
The Tower Today
The Lake Placid Tower has been empty and unused since 2020. It is considered one of Lake Placid's 35 historic buildings.
This tower is one of three similar towers in Central Florida. The others are the Florida Citrus Tower, built in 1956, and Bok Tower, built in 1929.
Images for kids
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Commemorative plaque dedicated to Ernest Oakley Hunt. Located inside adjacent building at base of tower.
