Another observation tower will be saved in Door County and it will not have to wait for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to do it. Town of Washington electors strongly supported the board’s decision on Tuesday to buy the land near the Mountain Park Outlook Tower on Washington Island and borrow nearly $100,000 to make the necessary repairs.  It was the second time this year the town’s electors approved a land purchase related to the Mountain Park Outlook Tower since the land surrounding the structure had three different owners. Tuesday’s vote included a small parcel, but one that included nearly three-quarters of the approximately 180 stairs leading up to the tower. Like similar towers at Peninsula State Park and Potawatomi State Park, the tower was closed in 2020 due to concerns around its structure. Town chairperson Hans Lux says he is happy saving the tower has such strong support.

The town is still waiting on one last report and for all of its financing to come through, but Lux hopes work on the Mountain Park Outlook Tower can be completed by Memorial Day 2022. There has been no progress on the status of the Potawatomi State Park Tower since three Sturgeon Bay residents testified in favor of saving the structure in late October. 

Picture of Hans Lux courtesy of LinkedIn

Picture of view from Mountain Park Outlook Tower courtesy of Tom Jordan