Climb 170 steps to the top of the tallest observation tower on public land in the U.S.
Climb 170 steps to the top of the tallest observation tower on public land in the U.S.
Transcript
[KOHLSDORF] To keep the adventures going around Lake Red Rock, hikers can capture stunning views at the Cordova Observation Tower.
[CALE EDWARDS] On a nice weekend, you're going to have hundreds of people throughout the course of a weekend come out and go up it.
[KOHLSDORF] The Cordova Observation Tower is part of the 1100 acre Cordova Park in Marion County. The park backs up to bluffs overlooking Lake Red Rock, supplying the 106 foot tall Cordova Tower with stunning lakeside views.
[CALE EDWARDS] Holiday or Tulip Time or any big event, Knoxville Nationals, you're going to have thousands through that event go through potentially even every day, depending on the weather. Pretty much year round, even in the winter, on nice days you'll get people going up there looking at the views.
[KOHLSDORF] In its beginning, the tower served as the water source for the park when it was managed by the Iowa DNR. When the Marion County Conservation Board took the park over in 1992, officials included repurposing the decommissioned tower into plans for park renovation. 170 steps take explorers to the top of the tallest observation tower on public land in the US. The tower also boasts the longest continuous fiberglass staircase in the world.
[CALE EDWARDS] If you're not in shape or haven't done a lot of exercise, you're going to feel it. But that's all right. There's a lot of platforms. So like a set of ten steps and then there's a platform. So if you do get tired, which I definitely do sometimes, you can stop and take a break on it. And then there's actually benches up top too. So you can sit down and enjoy the view and hang out there for a while.
[KOHLSDORF] Cordova Park offers a unique perspective for adventure seekers in Marion County.