Lake Placid Tower facts for kids

The Lake Placid Tower in Lake Placid, Florida, is a tall observation tower. It was once known by other names like Placid Tower, Tower of Peace, or Happiness Tower. This tower stands about 240 feet (73 meters) tall, which is like a 20-story building! It was built so people could go up and enjoy amazing views of the surrounding area.

The tower is located on ground that is about 142 feet (43 meters) above sea level. The very top of the tower, including its antennae, reaches about 250 feet (76 meters) above the ground. From its highest points, you could see for about 40 miles (64 km) in every direction! The tower had three main viewing levels: one enclosed with windows, an open-air balcony, and a special "crow's nest" at the very top.

Building the Lake Placid Tower

A Dream Comes True

A man named Earnest Oakley Hunt had a big dream. He wanted to build a tall observation tower. He found the perfect spot in Lake Placid, Florida. To make his dream happen, he teamed up with Robert Gray. Together, they started a company called Air View Corporation.

Design and Construction

The Lake Placid Tower was designed by an architect named A. Wynn Howell. It was built by Ridge Builders in 1960. The construction cost about $350,000 back then, which would be a lot more money today! The tower officially opened its doors on January 1, 1961.

Many people say that when it opened, it was the tallest building made of concrete blocks in the whole world. It used around 90,000 concrete blocks! The tower is square-shaped at its base, about 25 feet (7.7 meters) wide. It also has special decorative parts at the very top made of gold-colored aluminum.

Life of the Tower

Opening and Challenges

When the tower first opened, it was a popular tourist spot. However, after some time, not enough people were buying tickets. Because of low sales, the tower had to close in 1982. But good news! It reopened in 1986, hoping for better luck.

Even after reopening, the tower and its restaurant struggled to attract enough visitors. They tried different things, like adding a small petting zoo nearby. They even had a special pay phone at the very top, which they called "the highest pay phone in Florida!"

Changing Hands and Purpose

The last owner who ran the tower as a place for tourists was Mark Cambell, starting in 1992. He sold it in 2003 to a company called CHL Tower Group. This new owner used the tower for a different purpose: as a cell phone tower until 2019.

Even though the tower closed to visitors around 2003, you can still see two big red "OPEN" signs at its top, facing north and south. Over time, the tower's appearance changed. The upper part was painted white and a blue-green color. Panels were added that covered some of the viewing areas. The restaurant at the base of the tower closed in 2015.

Today's Status

The Lake Placid Tower has been empty and unused since 2020. It is considered one of the 35 important historic buildings in Lake Placid. It's also one of three famous 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.