environment. Observation towers once fulfilled a genuine need, offering perspectives otherwise unavailable in low-rise coastal areas. As development changed the skyline, that need diminished. The tower’s rise and fall illustrate the delicate balance between innovation and obsolescence in tourist economies, where success often depends on being new… Read More

As vacations became shorter and more tightly scheduled, tourists prioritized attractions that offered multiple experiences in one location. Observation towers, which provided a single, relatively brief activity, struggled to compete with parks, malls, and entertainment complexes that could occupy visitors for hours. The rise of air travel also alte… Read More

The tower did not exist in isolation but was part of a larger tourist ecosystem that included amusement parks, arcades, beaches, and entertainment venues. For many visitors, the tower served as a starting point or a finale, a place to orient themselves at the beginning of a vacation or to take one last look at the coast before leaving. Photographs … Read More

a visitor’s sense of wonder. At ground level, the coastal strip could feel crowded and chaotic, filled with traffic, souvenir shops, and attractions competing for attention. From the tower, however, everything came together into a single panorama. Visitors could trace the curve of the coastline, watch waves roll in from the Gulf, and observe the … Read More