Golden Spike Tax Drives Tower Plan Closer to Reality
We reported in 1999 that North Platte, Nebraska, proposed to build a 15-story Golden Spike Tower overlooking a railroad yard containing 10,000 freight cars near I-80. The observation tower would be railroad spike-shaped and covered with gold-enameled metal. Completion was targeted for 2000. Five years later, the Spike Project is unrealized, but still not dead.
The city of North Platte has been accumulating funds from a 2% hotel/motel occupation tax all that time, slated for use on the Spike. While this has provided over $1.6 million, the planning board has spent $918,000 of it on designs, plans, marketing, and other costs associated with thinking about a huge spike for North Platte.
Now the city is worried that the rising price of steel, a material needed to construct the structure, may cause contractor bids to spike above available funding. The USDA approved a $4.1 million loan for the project, which the city will pay off over the next 24 years.
We hope the Golden Spike tower will be completed by 2029, when the 2% Spike tax on motel rooms will end....
[12/04/2004]- Address:
- 1249 N. Homestead Rd, North Platte, NE
- Directions:
- I-80 exit 177. Drive north on US Hwy 83 into town. Turn left onto 5th St., then an immediate right onto Vine St. Drive two blocks, then turn left onto Front St. Drive two miles, turn right to stay on Front St., drive 1.5 miles to Homestead Rd and the Tower.
- Hours:
- Daily 9-7 (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 308-532-9920
- Admission:
- Adults $7.00
