Skylon Tower, the tallest structure near Niagara Falls, is one of the focal points of the Niagara Falls skyline. The structure was poured in 1964 at a cost of 7 million dollars. The 520 foot structure was opened in October 1965. The yellow elevators are visible from a good distance, running up and down the exterior of the tower core. The elevators have plenty of windows for breath-taking views of the falls as you make your ascent (and again during your descent). The skylines of Buffalo, New York and Toronto, Ontario are visible from the viewing deck of the tower.
Skylon Tower is home to an observation deck as well as a buffet style dining room and a revolving restaurant. The elevator ride to the observation deck runs around eight dollars for children and thirteen dollars for adults. If you eat at either restaurant, the cost of the elevator ride is factored into the cost of dinner. My group opted to dine at the revolving restaurant, where you enjoy a panoramic view of the city and falls while you dine. The revolving restaurant takes one hour to complete a full rotation. The revolving part of the restaurant is situated on a track that runs around the outer perimeter of the room. Elevated bar type tables are located on the inside part of the track while tables that seat four sit directly next to the large windows overlooking the city. A narrow walkway runs between the tables to allow for careful navigation in and out of the dining area. Several breaks in the inside wall allow you to step off the revolving platform to enter or exit.
I visited the Skylon Tower for lunch, figuring the prices would be a bit friendlier at lunch time than they would be during dinner. When I was presented with my menu, I was expecting the prices to be high because of the location as well as the conversion between US and Canadian currency (the prices listed were in Canadian dollars). I was still not prepared for the sticker shock I experienced when presented with the menu. A bowl of soup will set you back eleven dollars. A vegetable dinner runs twenty-five dollars at lunch time, while the pasta dishes run closer to thirty dollars. I ordered the New York Sirloin, which was priced at thirty-seven dollars (the dinner portion is listed at fifty dollars). I have eaten beef in Canada before and have found it to be a bit harsh on my taste buds. However, Alberta beef is generally good. I inquired if the beef was Alberta beef and was surprised to learn that is was USDA. My wife ordered Penne Alfredo, my mother ordered a salad and my son ordered a cheeseburger (fifteen dollars on the kids menu).
While we waited (extensively) for our meals to arrive, we took in the grandeur of Niagara Falls. The view was spectacular. I was able to take some excellent photographs from the tower perspective. The skyline of Toronto (and the CN Tower) were visible from fifty to a hundred miles away (I’m not sure of the “crow fly” distance). Buffalo was also visible from the tower. The 3 horsepower motor gently and gradually took us on a circular tour of the city, providing a view of the falls, followed by the city and returning again to the falls side. The restaurant was not crowded, but we arrived for a rather late lunch (after 2:00 PM). Although the view was nice, I found the wait to be a bit excessive. We waited over half an hour for our food.
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