I miss the Top O’ the Ozarks Tower

When the Dam was open and fully letting out the flood waters I would have liked to go up the tower and get a photo.
When the colors start in the fall the Tower was a wonderful place to visit. Being able to see so far it was like being above a sea of colored waves.
Hope that the Tower will open for next year.
“Aunt” Grace

The roar of the water could be heard a mile away

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.topotheozarks.net/

tower is closed for the summer of 2013 they are remodeling.

 

Looking at the Dam from the Tower

Looking at the Dam from the Tower

Bull Shoals Lake

Bull Shoals Lake

Fun Facts

 

  • The elevation of Bull Mountain is 1,109 feet above sea level.

  • The elevator stops at 120 feet above the ground.

  • The elevator travels at 92 feet per minute.

  • It was Marion County’s only elevator from 1964 till 2001.

  • To get to the upper deck, you have to walk.  The upper deck is 1,249 feet above sea level.

  • On the upper deck, you are approximately 800 feet above the level of the White River and approximately 600 feet above the level of Bull Shoals Lake.

  • From the bottom to top there are 240 steps.

  • Visibility, on a clear day, is approximately 50 miles.

  • From the top you can view over a million acres.

  • From ground level to the top of the flag pole is 180 feet.

White River

White River

  • The Tower has been the site of 45 wedding ceremonies since 1964.

  • The Tower is built to withstand winds up to 350 miles per hour.

  • The gentleman, who had the Tower built, was inspired at the young age of 8 when he visited an old fire tower in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  In 1958, he came to live in Bull Shoals and felt that atop of Bull Mountain would be an ideal observation point.  He made several trips to the Gulf Coast area of Louisiana (Grande Isle) and secured the materials (three old off-shore drilling platforms).  The materials were brought here in pieces and reassembled by a crew of 6 men in less than 5 months time.

  • All wooden structures are built from pressure treated lumber to withstand exposure to the elements.

  • The flood lights on the tower can be seen for approximately 15 miles away.  They are turned on around sunset and remain on for several hours.