For the first time since 2017, you can get a bird’s eye view of Potawatomi State Park. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources opened the historic tower this week after a spring storm blocked the main road leading to the tower.
That was nothing compared to the three years of waiting since Governor Tony Evers and then-DNR Secretary Preston Cole announced the tower would be saved. Controversy set in when more expensive options to salvage the tower were introduced that would have added an ADA-accessible ramp similar to what was built for Peninsula State Park’s Eagle Tower. The state finally settled on repairing the structure and putting some space aside for a scenic outlook for those who want to gaze upon the state park, but cannot climb the tower.
Dave Allen has already enjoyed the view from the top of the observation tower a few times since he learned that the tower had been reopened. He says the view proves that some things are just worth fighting for in the end.
The DNR is doing minor clean-up work around the tower ahead of the upcoming season. The tower was initially closed in 2017 because of significant wood decay and unsafe conditions. Built in 1931, the tower was placed on the State Register of Historic Places in 2019 and on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.
