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Located in the bustling city’s downtown core of Calgary, The Calgary Tower is one of the most well-known tourist monument attractions and a preferred dining location.
It is the tallest building in all of Calgary. It also symbolizes urban renewal and the growth of downtown Calgary. If you are in a dilemma about whether you should include this great tower on your travel bucket list, don’t worry we got you covered. In this blog, we will go over everything you need to know.
Interested? Let’s go..
1. Origin & Significance
This Tower was originally known as Husky Tower. It is a free-standing observation tower. Its observation deck provides an amazing view of the Calgary tower view. It is a joint venture between Marathon Realty Company Limited and Husky Oil.
The World Federation of Great Towers is an international association of great monuments.
The tower is 190.8 meters tall. It costs around $3,500,000 and weighs 10,884 tonnes. The tower resembles the past and present of Canada. From the very beginning, it had and still has two elevators. They carry the visitors to the observation space in just one minute.
It was publicly opened on June 30, 1968, and was renamed Calgary Tower from Husky Tower in 1971. A. Dale and Associates designed the tower. It was one of the tallest buildings in Calgary and even North America.
2. ARCHITECTURE
- Architect: W. G. Milne – A. Dale and Associates.
- Contractor: General – Poole Construction Co.; Structural – Ricketts, Evers, and Associates.
- Original cost: $3.5 million in 1968.
- Original owners: Husky Oil Limited and Marathon Realty as part of the Palliser Square redevelopment.
- Height of the Calgary Tower: 190.8 meters (626 ft.)
Up to 200 people could fit on the rotating restaurant floor, while 250 could fit on the first observation deck.
There was a snack bar and cocktail lounge in the Upper Deck area.
A great view, bragging rights, and a workout. You’ll get it after ascending the 802 steps of the Calgary Tower on Friday, June 30. The quickest ascent took four minutes and 27 seconds.
But don’t stress about setting any records during this event; the main goal is to have fun. Katie Urness, manager of operations and guest services, typically takes most guests 20 minutes to ascend the steps.
3. Why Visit the Calgary Tower?
Witness the spectacular view from a great height: there are innumerable amazing experiences you can have by visiting the Calgary Tower. The Tower is a joint venture between Marathon Realty Company Limited and Husky Oil. The following are the best reasons to visit the tower located in the downtown core:
3.1. Spectacular view:
- The Tower offers a 360-degree view of the bustling city, which is mesmerizing enough for you to plan a visit.
- Observe the entire city from the top and enjoy the 360-degree view of the tower. Get up there by the elevator in just one minute.
- The tower offers a birds-eye experience from a height of 191 meters. It is worth watching.
3.2. Tower lit with amazing colors:
- It is appropriate to visit with all age groups. The observation deck lets children know about the city’s past and present.
- The Calgary tower offers 132 LED lights on the tower that are the center of attraction for all. The tower contains three lights on the roof, 12 on the crown, 24 on the upper and lower pod, and 96 on the ring.
- Each luminaire can be programmed to produce around 16.5 million shades. It can also produce many synchronized effects. The tower is lit daily from 5:00 am to sunrise and dusk to midnight.
- Colorful shades lighten the tower. It shows a sign of joy and festival to whoever is visiting or gazing at the Tower every day through the observation deck.
3.3. The Olympics and the tower:
- The Olympics and the Calgary Tower are closely associated. Since the 1988 winter Olympics, the torch has been lit for every Olympic game.
- It also represents the opening and closing ceremony for one hour continuously during a major win acquired by Canada.
- The 1988 Olympic torch was also designed to replicate this tower. Still, many people think it is an original one.
3.4. Multimedia tour:
- You can also go on a multimedia tour. It is available in 7 languages.
- They include English, French, Mandarin, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and German.
- It is also an award-winning aspect of the tower. You can have complete knowledge of the tower.
3.5. Dining experience:
- You can also have an amazing dining experience in the plush and sophisticated dining room. Ruth’s Chris Steak House is well-known for its mouth-watering food and good service.
- Calgary Tower offers wonderful dining options. The Sky 360 provides the best dining experience and the tower’s charm. Along with gobbling on delightful food, you can take a 360-degree look at the entire city.
- The view revolves around once every 45 minutes during lunchtime and once per hour during dinner. If you choose to dine in 360, you will have an excellent time.
3.6. Thrilling glass floor:
- The glass floor of the observation deck is an adventurous and mind-blowing experience.
- It feels like walking in the air at such an enormous height above the land and would make your heart beat faster.
3.7. The gift shop:
- On your way home, you can gift yourself with unique artefacts from the Calgary Tower gift shop.
- It has amazing remembrances of this great place.
- They include tokens featuring the Tower view or apparel.
- You can enrich your loved ones with these beautiful remembrances through the observation deck.
- This joint venture between Marathon Realty and Husky Oil is indeed rocking!
3.8. Carillon music:
- The Calgary Tower was built in 1967 in Calgary Downtown. The tower contains an amazing carillon.
- Calgary Tower offers a musical instrument made of various bells.
- It produces soothing and joyful music and a great entertaining environment. It was presented to the city by the Dutch community in 1975.
- It was a part of the celebration, contributing to the delightful music played in the tower.
- Even today, when you reach the tower base, you can listen to some delightful music. It creates a joyful environment and calms your mind from all the stress and drama.
4. Policies To Keep in Mind On Your Visit
4.1 Purchases of Tickets
At the Calgary Tower ticket office, you may buy tickets. The reselling firm must handle any issue or disagreement with a reseller ticket.
Tickets acquired through a reseller (Expedia, Eservus, etc.) will be honored in line with the Calgary Tower’s agreement with the Reseller. The Tower has the right to refuse entrance and will not be held liable for any difficulty brought on by the unlawful duplication or resale of admission tickets.
4.2 Bags
Visitors can carry their bags into the Tower, although they must pass inspection on all baggage, including handbags and knapsacks. Bags must never be abandoned.
Please be aware that Calgary Tower does not have any storage space.
4.3 Cameras
Personal still and video cameras may be used as long as they don’t obstruct other visitors’ enjoyment.
Without the explicit written consent of the Calgary Tower and after previous negotiations, photographs and video recorded inside the Calgary Tower may not be utilized for any commercial purpose.
Contact info@calgarytower.com for further details.
4.4 Policies for health and safety
The health and safety rules posted throughout the facility and on our website must be followed by all visitors.
4.5 Emergency Actions
Every security team supervisor and the member has received health and life safety training, including evacuation techniques. Please heed instructions given over the public address system by uniformed workers and security officers in an emergency
Closing Thoughts
So, what are you waiting for? Plan your visit to the tower tours today; add the restaurant gift shop Rockies, restaurant, and snack shop to your plan.
Also, while you are there don’t forget to visit the city hall, the majestic rocky mountains, Calgary zoo, Calgary Alberta or Destination Canada. You can find many related Calgary tower reviews that can help you make plans.
ProTip: if you plan to see the downtown Calgary skyline, you could miss out on discounted observation deck tickets available at certain times of the year.
Frequently Asked Question
1. How to Reach the Calgary Tower?
It is located on 9th Avenue SW and is accessible by car, C-train, or walking. The Downtown C-train serves the tower and is in the free fare zone.
This Tower, located in the bustling city’s downtown core, is attached to the Plus 15 walkway system. The tower is located in the section that connects buildings such as the Fairmont Palliser Hotel, the Glenbow Museum, and the Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts.
2. What is the Cost of the Calgary Tower view?
- For children aged three and below: FREE!
- For children aged 4 to 12: $9.00
- For adults aged 13 to 64: $18.00
- For senior citizens aged 65 and above: $16.00
3. What does Calgary Tower offer: amenities, access, and parking?
- Sky360 and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse are two dining alternatives.
- Restrooms
- With proper identification, travelers’ checks, cash, credit cards <span class=” mf-jss1457 mf-jss1519″>(Visa, MasterCard, American Express), and credit cards are all accepted.
- Gift stores
- Mailbox
- Wheelchair friendly.
- Parking fees are charged at the Tower Center Parkade on 10th Avenue.
Last Updated on by alishbarehman