Skylon Tower celebrates 50th anniversary in October 2015

The Skylon Tower is arguably the most identifiable building along the Niagara Falls landscape. It’s believed close to 50-million visitors have taken the 52-second ride in one of three glass-enclosed exterior elevators that glide up and down the outside of the tower’s shaft, or climbed its 662 steps. The tower is 160-metres high, and tourists have often been left in awe, as they stand on the observation deck, overlooking the falls 236 metres below. Many have also eaten at the tower’s revolving restaurant, which seats 272 people. The room makes one rotation every hour, giving diners a 360-degree look at Niagara Falls and beyond. The Skylon Tower opened Oct. 6, 1965. At the time, it was the tallest reinforced concrete structure of its kind in the world. The Skylon Tower was built by Pigott Construction Co., out of Hamilton. Six hundred people worked on the $11 million project, which took 17 months to complete. General Manager George Yerich Jr. said his family, which includes his father George Sr., mother Violet, brother Michael and sister Katherine, have owned the tower since 1986. The original owners were four businessmen who got together and built the tower, including the Pigott family. 

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