Genoa, Colorado: Wonder View Tower

Described by many as a "quirky tourist trap," the Wonder Tower is so much more! The Tower was built in the 1920s and was the highest point between New York and Denver. It was said you could see 6 states from the top of its very rickety tower back then, and it has been contested, but few realize it DID have a telescope then. In its heyday there was a swanky dining room with expensive (couple of bucks) steak dinners. Stopping there on your cross country adventure was a must.

Now stopping there to talk with Jerry, the owner, is a must. He won't brag about it but he isn't some crazy guy who hoards things (yes, it looks like it) like pickled two-headed calves. He is an amazing anthropologist who was published in journals like National Geographic. Now, he keeps the conversation from himself and likes to keep you guessing about interesting items from history he collects in his "tower." Well worth the visit - if only to talk at length with Jerry - a fountain of knowledge of human behavior and all things interesting!

Had a wonderful visit at the Genoa Wonder Tower. Took our 12 and 14 year old grandsons. They have never seen anything like it. Takes me back 50 years, when my family always stopped at tacky tourist spots like this.

$1 for admission; I'd have happily paid $5. We even bought a few things for the boys that should have added up to about $12. I thought I was getting off real cheap -- then they "rounded it off" to $5.

Made for nice afternoon outing from Denver.

We stopped at the Wonder Tower in July '07, and Jerry has now invested in postcards. If you're looking for a quirky roadside attraction, this is it. We anticipated about a 30 minute quick walk-through and ended up staying a couple of hours.