This 87.5-foot steel tower was originally built as a tourist scenic viewing attraction in 1928. It was manned as a paid forest observer position from 1946-1966. Volunteers manned it from 1967 until a tornado took out its phone and electric lines in 1977. It currently functions as it was originally designed, for the public to take a scenic view of the area. Heavily visited during the summer season, often seeing 200-400 visitors every two hours. Although the tower is open to visitation year round, the cab is open only during interpretive programming.