This recent view (Nov. 15, 2023) of the Central Park neighborhood, taken from the former air traffic control tower, demonstrates the area’s development since the 2011 photo below. Front Porch photo by Christie Gosch

Central Park’s iconic 164-foot tall air traffic control tower is now open to the public on a limited basis. One of the last vestiges of the Stapleton International Airport (1929-1995), the tower rewards guests who climb the 11 flights of stairs with some of the best views of Denver and the Rocky Mountains. Visitors to the 800-square-foot observatory can see as far as Pikes Peak on a clear day, and it’s the perfect spot for a selfie photo.

Photo taken from the tower on Dec. 20, 2011 by Adrian Diubaldo.

“I just got tired of saying ‘no,’” says Eric Serani, FlyteCo co-founder and president. He started offering tours at FlyteCo Tower in mid-November. “Everyone who comes in asks, ‘Can we go in the tower?’ So I figured out a way to say ‘yes.’”

This tower was part of a 1960s expansion to the former Denver Municipal Airport. In 1964, it was renamed Stapleton International Airport after former Denver Mayor Ben Stapleton, a controversial figure for having been a member of the Ku Klux Klan. By 1960, Stapleton International ferried over 1.5 million travelers each year to their domestic and overseas destinations. The tower remains an emblem of Denver’s mid-century growth and regional economic importance.

FlyteCo Tower recently began offering tours to the observatory at the top of Central Park’s iconic air traffic control tower. Visitors who can safely climb 11 flights of stairs are rewarded with a spectacular 360-degree view of Denver and the Rocky Mountains. Front Porch photo by Christie Gosch

After the last plane departed the Stapleton Airport in 1995, and after Denver International opened as the new airport for the city, the control tower was closed down and remained empty for over two decades. According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, the Denver City Council reached out to Punch Bowl Social in 2014 because the national chain was known to utilize historic buildings for its entertainment venues. Punch Bowl Social then hired OZ Architecture to bring its vision for a second Denver location to life. Together they gutted and redesigned much of the interior for its new use, which included a corporate headquarters on the third floor and family-friendly entertainment at the base levels.

After Punch Bowl closed in 2020, the space was again vacant until it was acquired by new owners. In August 2022, FlyteCo Brewing began to operate the bars, restaurant, and entertainment features that include bowling lanes, dart boards, arcade games, and mini golf. FlyteCo also added a private event space in the tower’s base, and it recently began using the third floor for axe-throwing, golf simulators, ping pong tables, and a full bar.

The tower does not offer any amenities at present, but Serani hopes a new elevator is in the building’s future. At that point, he would also like to place a cocktail lounge in the observatory and expand the tower tours for guests. A new elevator, he says, would cost over half a million dollars. Even during its active operation as an air traffic control tower, the elevator stopped two flights of stairs below the observatory, so an additional system such as a wheelchair lift would need to be built to provide equal access for all visitors.

“The neighborhood is great, and the aviation community is being great,” says Serani. “They really embrace this, and we’ve had a lot of corporate and group events as well.”

If you want to test your stamina or get your steps in, guided tours are currently available on Wednesdays by reservation only. Tickets are $10 each. Note that at present, tours do not accommodate those with mobility issues. Visitors must be able to climb 11 flights of stairs. For more information and to register for a tour, go to Eventbrite.com: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tower-tours-tickets-730458851087. FlyteCo is located at 3120 Uinta Street in Denver.