Potawatomi State Park Superintendent Erin Brown-Stender has informed us that the park’s observation tower was finally re-opened to the public Monday. Early last month, the DNR announced the tower would be opening in mid-to late-April, as they were waiting for the snow and ice to sufficiently clear. After a short final clean-up of the tower site Monday morning, the DNR opened the tower quietly with no fanfare. It did not take long for word to get out, however, and excited area residents were already climbing the newly reinforced tower to enjoy the view not seen by the public for over 7 years.
The tower was closed in December of 2017 due to some structural wood decay and unsafe conditions. The tower’s fate was the topic of much debate between the DNR, Governor Tony Evers, and the residents of Door County. After the governor approved the tower’s emergency stabilization funding in the last biennial budget, intensive restoration work began.
The next project proposed for this site is a fully accessible lookout for park users of all abilities. Remaining dollars from the now just completed tower project will be re-appropriated to this next project along with additional funding.
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