Cordova Tower

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Cordova Tower is an observation tower located on the north side of Lake Red Rock in Knoxville, Iowa. The tower features the world's longest and tallest continuous set of fiberglass stairs, ascending from the ground to the observation deck built atop a converted 100-foot tall by 15-foot diameter stand-pipe water tower. The structure stands 106 feet in the air, making it the largest observation tower in the Midwest.

The construction of the tower was ordered by the Marion County Conservation Board (director Steve Edwards) as part of its development plan for Cordova Park, the area in which the tower stands. Nearly two million visitors visit the Lake Red Rock area each year. The tower, completed in 1998, offers a breathtaking view of the Des Moines River valley. The structure has been awarded first place in the Grand Concepter Award from the Engineering Council of Iowa for engineering excellence.