|
|
 |
|
|
6732 Fallsview Boulevard
Niagara Falls, Ontario
L2G 3W6
For Reservations call:
|
Konica Minolta Tower
Konica Minolta Tower before construction of surrounding hotels and Fallsview
Casino (which was built on the footprint of the building in the lower-right)
Konica Minolta Tower today in the Fallsview area surrounded by hotels and
casino's The Konica Minolta Tower Centre, opened in 1962, is located in the
Fallsview district of Niagara Falls, Ontario and was the first of the modern
observation towers built near the brink of the Falls.
The Konica Minolta Tower Center was originally called the Seagram Tower, named
after the House of Seagram business in Montreal. Over the years, due to multiple
bankruptcies and ownership changes, tower names changed between Heritage Tower
(1969), Royal Inn Tower (1971), Royal Center Tower (1972), Panasonic Tower
(1973), and Minolta Tower (1984). It features an indoor observation deck,
restaurant, wedding chapel, and hotel. From street level, the tower is 99 meters
(325 feet) tall, however it is situated 160 meters (525 feet) above the falls.
Minolta Tower Construction
Construction began in 1961, and was reportedly the first using of the slipform
construction method in North America. One minor fire occurred on the roof on
September 2, 1961, due to spillage of hot-mix concrete igniting a tarp and
causing several propane tanks to explode. Damage was minimal, estimated at "a
few thousand dollars", and nine people suffered minor injuries battling the
blaze.
The tower opened for business on July 1, 1962.
Observation deck
Located on the 25th floor, this deck features a panoramic view of the falls and
Niagara River in addition to floor-to-ceiling windows treated with a non-glare
finish designed to enhance photography. There are many historical photos and
news articles about the construction of the tower mounted around the deck in
addition to pay-per-use telescopes.
Pinnacle Restaurant
Renovated in March 2005, the tower's restaurant offers gourmet meals featuring
steak and seafood. At the same elevation as the Observation Deck, the restaurant
is open for three meals per day. Group and à la carte menus are available, and
the restaurant can be reserved for wedding receptions. In addition, the Pinnacle
Lounge can be booked for private gatherings. The Pinnacle Restaurant was
recently transformed by Robin De Groot for his television program Restaurant
Makeover, completely transforming the environment and menu to the delight of
Niagara Falls.
Weddings
Marketed through Niagara Fallsview Weddings, the tower chapel provides
fully-serviced weddings including consultants, cake and flowers, an officiant,
and photography. Multiple packages are available and include accommodations.
Fully legal weddings are offered.
Hotel
In 2002, the tower re-opened after extensive renovations to include the four
star Ramada Plaza Fallsview. Falls view and city view rooms feature queen beds,
while suites include king beds.
Changing skyline
A recent boom in large hotel construction has diminished the tower's prominence
as a landmark. All of these hotels strive to give their guests as good a view of
the falls as possible by taking advantage of their position of the height on
land above the falls, once dominated solely by the Konica Minolta Tower. In
contrast, the airspace around the Skylon tower remains fairly open, thanks to
its position further back from the Niagara River.
Ironically, when the tower and surrounding area was first designed prior to
groundbreaking on March 15, 1961, it was to be the centerpiece of a proposed
hotel/convention center. Due to finances, the accompanying hotel buildings were
not built, and it would be over forty years before hotels began to rise adjacent
to the tower.
During the 1970s and 1980s, the surrounding land was occupied by an aquarium to
the north, and the Waltzing Waters attraction to the south. The Waltzing Waters
site was moved across the street in 1995 to allow for site planning of the
current Marriott hotel. The Waltzing Waters, a light and water show synchronized
to music, disappeared altogether by 2000. The aquarium was dismantled in 1996 to
allow for further site expansion. |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
