During the late 1960s roadside attractions hit a high point. It seemed a ground level view in the "Space Age" was no longer good enough for the jet set crowd. Heavily trafficked tourist areas began to sprout observation towers as their centerpiece.

The Space Needle opened in Gatlinburg, TN in May 1970. It was the Smoky Mountains answer to its West Coast counterpart, if only in name. The tower stretched 342-feet upward and contained two elevators to the top. Its allure was little more than giving visitors a rise out of seeing the surrounding mountain landscape.

When the 1990s landed, tower fads had subsided. The Needle added a video arcade at its base to pick up business. A greater view was now one from the moon with the aid of a motion simulator ride.

There is hardly a mention of the Space Needle in local brochures. It has been overshadowed by Ripley museums, go-karts, dinner shows, and sky lifts. It does however make for a good landmark when giving directions to any of the area's other attractions.

Space Needle
115 Airport Road
Gatlinburg, TN