The Wonder of the Plains: Genoa, Colorado’s Enduring Tower of Six States and Strange Delights
On the vast, seemingly endless canvas of eastern Colorado’s plains, where Interstate 70 carves a straight, unyielding path through wheat fields and an ocean of sky, something peculiar rises. It’s not a mountain, nor a modern skyscraper, but a squat, unassuming concrete tower that appears almost anachronistic against the backdrop of contemporary travel. This is the Genoa Colorado Wonder Tower, a relic of a bygone era, a monument to American ingenuity, roadside marketing, and an enduring curiosity that has captivated travelers for nearly a century.
To the casual passerby hurtling down I-70, the tower, nestled in the tiny speck of Genoa, might be just another faded signpost for a forgotten attraction. But to those who take the exit, who brave the dust of the parking lot and step through its unassuming front door, the Wonder Tower reveals itself as a portal. It’s a portal not just to a panoramic view of the plains, but to a time when travel was an adventure, when wonder was manufactured with concrete and tall tales, and when the allure of seeing "six states from one spot" was enough to pull thousands off the nascent highway system.
A Vision on the High Plains: The Genesis of Wonder
The story of the Genoa Wonder Tower begins, as many great American tales do, with a visionary entrepreneur and a bold claim. In the roaring twenties, a decade of flappers, jazz, and the burgeoning automobile industry, C.W. Gregory, a local farmer and businessman, saw an opportunity. As cars began to crisscross the nation, Gregory recognized the need for attractions that would entice these new adventurers to stop, spend a little money, and marvel. He envisioned a tower, a beacon on the flat horizon, that would offer an unparalleled view.
Construction began in 1926, a Herculean effort for its time and place. Gregory, with local labor, poured concrete and stacked stones, meticulously crafting a structure designed not just for observation, but for a legend. The tower, standing approximately 65 feet tall with three levels of interior space and an open-air observation deck, was completed in 1927. Its design, sturdy and functional, belied the fantastical claim that would become its primary draw: from its summit, one could allegedly see six states – Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, New Mexico, and even parts of South Dakota.
This claim, a masterstroke of early 20th-century marketing, immediately put Genoa on the map. In an era before satellite imagery and GPS, the allure of such a panoramic vista was irresistible. People flocked to the tower, eager to test the limits of their eyesight and the veracity of Gregory’s promise. The promise itself became a self-fulfilling prophecy; whether or not all six states were truly visible became secondary to the belief and the experience of trying to spot them. As one local historian, Dr. Eleanor Vance, often quips, "It’s less about verifiable geography and more about boundless aspiration. Gregory wasn’t just selling a view; he was selling a dream of limitless horizons."
A Cabinet of Curiosities: Inside the Tower’s Walls
Ascending the creaky wooden steps of the Wonder Tower is like stepping into a meticulously curated, if somewhat chaotic, time capsule. The interior is not a sterile museum of pristine exhibits, but a delightful hodgepodge of Americana, Native American artifacts, natural history specimens, and pure, unadulterated kitsch. Each level offers a new layer of discovery, a testament to Gregory’s eclectic interests and the donations of generations of travelers and locals.
The ground floor, often bustling with the quiet murmur of visitors, serves as a gift shop and an initial introduction to the tower’s treasures. Here, one might find shelves laden with local honey, postcards, and souvenirs rubbing shoulders with display cases housing arrowheads, petrified wood, and antique farming implements. The air carries the faint scent of dust and old wood, a nostalgic perfume that immediately grounds the visitor in the past.
As you climb, the exhibits become more concentrated and curious. One floor might be dedicated to Native American artifacts – pottery shards, intricate beadwork, and tools, many collected from the surrounding plains. Another level might transform into a natural history diorama, showcasing taxidermied animals native to Colorado: a stoic badger, a soaring hawk, a shy deer. But it’s often the truly bizarre, the uniquely human oddities, that capture the imagination. Here, amidst the more conventional displays, you might encounter a two-headed calf preserved in formaldehyde, a collection of antique firearms, or peculiar geological formations.
"Every object in here tells a story," says Sarah Jenkins, a current manager whose family has been involved with the tower for decades. "This isn’t just a job; it’s keeping a piece of history alive. Every dust motes tells a story, every artifact has a connection to someone who stood right where you are, a generation ago." Her words resonate, emphasizing the deep personal connection many feel to this quirky landmark. The sheer volume and variety of items speak to a collecting ethos that predates modern museum science, focusing instead on the intrinsic wonder of discovery and the desire to share it.
The View: Beyond Six States
Reaching the open-air observation deck is the culmination of the journey. After the fascinating, often overwhelming, interior, the sudden rush of fresh air and the vastness of the horizon are a powerful contrast. While the scientific accuracy of seeing six states from this elevation remains hotly debated by geographers (the curvature of the Earth and intervening terrain make it highly improbable), the view is, nonetheless, undeniably breathtaking.
What one does see is an expansive, uninterrupted panorama of the high plains. The land stretches out in every direction, a patchwork of agricultural fields, distant wind turbines, and the shimmering ribbon of I-70. On a clear day, the faint outline of the Rocky Mountains, over 100 miles to the west, can be discerned – a majestic, snow-capped mirage on the horizon. To the east, the plains continue their relentless march into Kansas. The sense of scale is profound, offering a humbling perspective on the sheer size of the American landscape.
It’s a view that speaks to the pioneers who once traversed this land, to the farmers who still work it, and to the sheer tenacity of human endeavor in a seemingly endless expanse. It allows for contemplation, for imagining what this land looked like before settlement, and what it might become. The "six states" claim, in this context, transforms from a literal assertion into a metaphor for the boundless possibilities and the awe-inspiring grandeur of the American West.
A Legacy of Roadside Americana
The Genoa Wonder Tower is more than just a local attraction; it’s a living embodiment of "roadside Americana," a cultural phenomenon that blossomed with the advent of the automobile. As Route 66 and other early highways connected the nation, entrepreneurs like C.W. Gregory dotted the landscape with eccentric attractions designed to lure travelers off the main thoroughfare. These were often quirky, sometimes outlandish, and always memorable – giant statues, bizarre museums, unique diners, and, of course, observation towers promising impossible views.
Many of these roadside marvels have faded into memory, victims of changing travel habits, the dominance of chain establishments, and the relentless march of progress. The construction of the Interstate Highway System in the mid-20th century, designed for speed and efficiency, often bypassed the small towns and their attractions that once thrived on the older routes. Genoa itself, once a bustling stop on the old U.S. 24, saw its fortunes diminish as I-70 whisked travelers past.
Yet, the Wonder Tower endured. Its survival is a testament to the dedication of the Gregory family, who operated it for decades, and later, other passionate individuals who understood its unique cultural significance. It is a beacon of resilience, a reminder that some things are worth preserving not just for their historical value, but for the sheer joy and wonder they evoke. In an age of instant gratification and digital distractions, the Wonder Tower offers a slower, more tangible form of engagement. It invites you to pause, to look, to imagine, and to connect with a simpler, more hands-on past.
The Enduring Charm
Today, the Genoa Colorado Wonder Tower continues to draw visitors from across the country and around the world. It’s a pilgrimage site for enthusiasts of roadside Americana, a nostalgic stop for families revisiting childhood memories, and a fascinating discovery for those seeking an authentic, unvarnished piece of American history.
It stands as a testament to the power of a good story, the ingenuity of early entrepreneurs, and the enduring human desire to see beyond the immediate horizon. Whether you believe in the "six states" claim or not, the Wonder Tower offers a view that is undeniably expansive – a view into the heart of the American plains, the spirit of its people, and the timeless appeal of a truly unique roadside attraction. It’s a place where history feels tangible, where curiosity is rewarded, and where, for a brief moment, the ordinary world outside fades, replaced by the enduring wonder of Genoa.
