Space Tower (Minnesota State Fair)
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| Watch the on-ride POV |
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| The ride in 2009 with its old color scheme | |||||||||||||
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| Manufacturer | Willy Bühler Space Towers | ||||||||||||
| Product | Space Tower | ||||||||||||
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| Capacity | 50-60 per cycle | ||||||||||||
| Height | 330 feet | ||||||||||||
| Cabins | 1 | ||||||||||||
Space Tower is an Observation Tower located at the Minnesota State Fair in Falcon heights, Minnesota, USA. Opening for the 1964 season, it has been a local staple ever since and was one of the tallest rides in the world when it opened.
It is one of 2 Space Towers currently in operation by Willy Bühler Space Towers, the other being Euroscoop at the Euromast in the Netherlands. It is also the only Space Tower to still use the Von Roll cabin.
History
The ride's construction initially began in the early 1960s, when parts were assembled in Germany and arrived at Duluth before heading to Minnesota for the fair.[1] It would be the star of the fair, being permanent and sporting a 330-foot-tall structure, with 300 feet being ascended by the gondola.
It's first season was in 1964 and became an immediate staple within the fair.
Originally, when it opened in 1964, it was owned by one person, who also owned the Skyway and several other rides. When he passed, his rides were passed down to his children or other buyers, and a new owner operated it for one year before being sold to Errol Kantor, and his wife, Gretchen Kantor.[2]
In the early 1980s, it received a repaint that changed its red and white scheme[3] with a new red, white, and blue. In 2019, this would be changed to a dark-blue and white color scheme, with green gondolas.[4]
References
- ↑ "Space Tower". spacetower.co. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
- ↑ "Space Tower - Family". spacetower.co. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
- ↑ "Space Tower - Media". spacetower.co. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
- ↑ Editor, Sara Marie Moore/Vadnais Heights (2019-02-06). "State Fair's Space Needle has a fresh coat of paint after 40 years". Press Publications. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
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