Skylon Tower
5200 Robinson St.
Niagara Falls ON
Email: skyinfo@skylon.com
Website: www.skylon.com
Hours: Summer: Seven days a week 8 a.m.-midnight; winter: 11 a.m.-9 p.m.
Tickets
Ticket prices include a Best Value, which incorporates a Ride to the Top and the 3D/4D Theatre at $16.50 for adults, $15 for seniors and $9 for children.
Parking
There is ample parking with several designated spots. However, side-loading vehicles would best park at the end of one of the parking rows, as concrete barriers lining the designated spots would pose a problem. There is a rather steep, paved ramped entrance into the tower.
That said, a visit to Niagara Falls wouldn't be complete without a stop at the Skylon Tower, which opened in 1965, rising to the equivalent of 52 storeys and offering the highest vantage point in Niagara. And whether you're a visitor or a resident of the area, you will no doubt agree that there's no better way to view the majesty of the mighty cataract than from the indoor/outdoor viewing area of the tower's Observation Deck, 775 feet above the falls. Getting up there is half the fun, riding in one of the three ‘yellow bug' glass-enclosed elevators and climbing up the outside walls of the tower while taking in the amazing vistas of the falls. The ride to the top takes 52 seconds.
Once there, visitors who are mobility impaired and use a wheelchair or scooter are currently unable to access the outer area of the Observation Deck, as there are several steps to contend with. During our Accessible Niagara audit of the tower, we discussed with management the possibility of installing a lift platform at one of the three entrances to the outer deck, so that seated visitors could wheel onto it and be lowered to access the outdoor area. (We will update our information as it becomes available.) Whether viewing from indoors or outdoors, however, the awe-inspiring panorama is simply magnificent, stretching for 80 miles and taking in the Toronto and Buffalo skylines along with the immediate area of scenic Niagara. There are also souvenir and gift shops located on this level.
The Skylon, however, is more than just the Observation Deck. In all, there are seven levels to the tower, four on the bottom and three on the top, and people visit for different reasons; some come for the ultimate in dining experiences in the Revolving Dining Room (two floors down from the top Observation Deck) or the Summit Suite Buffet Dining Room (one floor from the top), while others are interested in Niagara's largest indoor amusement centre/video arcade, which features 150 machines and a fast food court. This is located on the lowest level and has an accessible exit and elevator down to the Annex next door, which features the accessible 3D/4D Motion Theatre, a Starbucks Coffee Shop and Nathan's Famous Hotdogs Restaurant. Work is currently in progress here for an accessible link with the Fallsview Casino Resort.
Dining
As mentioned, the Skylon offers two levels of fine dining. The Revolving Dining Room offers lunch and dinner in an elegant setting where the cuisine and the view compete for top billing. At night diners can enjoy the spectacular illumination of the falls. Each rotation takes an hour and a normal dining experience would see two rotations. There are eight sets of two steps up to the outer dining rim and staff places a portable ramp to allow access for guests in wheelchairs or scooters. We waited a few minutes during the rotation for one set of steps to line up with the foyer to facilitate access. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. and costs between $20 and $30 for adults. Dinner is served from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and costs $40+ per person. Early bird specials are served daily at 4:30 and 5:00 p.m. seatings.
The ultimate in buffet-style dining is offered in the Summit Suite Dining Room. Again, that same magnificent view can be enjoyed here, without the rotation. Brunch, lunch and dinner are served daily during the tourist season (May-October) while Sunday brunch is served year-round. Prices are comparable to those in the Revolving Dining Room. Reservations are requested for both dining rooms.
The main concourse of the tower features a Starbucks Coffee Shop with outdoor patio, the ticket desk for Ride to the Top and dining reservations, international shopping and souvenir stores.
Washrooms
The only washroom for total accessibility is located in the lower games level, to the left of the elevator. This is a huge family style washroom with a 33" door opening and approximately 9' by 9' operating space. It features an open sink with lever handles, a low mirror, grab bars around the toilet, a low hand dryer and a baby change table.
There is also a family style washroom on the Summit Suite Dining Room level that would suit a wheelchair but be too tight for a scooter. There is a space of 6' from the door to the opposite wall and 3' to the front of the toilet bowl on the right. There is an open sink with lever handles but we had difficulty closing the door when using a scooter.
If you want to really enjoy thee view, I'd say go to the top, look around the entire viewing space but because you can't get outlside, go and have lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants in the tower. In the Revolving Dining Room you'll get a view of everything, in the buffet you'll have an incredible view overlooking all three of the falls, parts of Niagara's waterfront and New York State.
Audited July/05