World's Wonder View Tower: Can You Really See Six States from One Spot?

Most travelers have heard of Four Corners, where four states meet. Multiple other tri-points let you stand on the borders of three states (Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota) at once. But did you know there's a historic roadside attraction in eastern Colorado that claims you can see six states at once?

Welcome to the World's Wonder View Tower in Genoa, Colorado!

The World's Wonder View Tower has welcomed travelers to Genoa since 1926 with its famous claim that six states can be seen from the top.

The former Wonder Museum once housed one of Colorado's quirkiest roadside collections, featuring everything from antique bottles to unusual curiosities.

Old remnants of the property's historic motel serve as a reminder of the Wonder View Tower's heyday as a popular stop for travelers along U.S. Highway 24.

Looking toward Genoa from the top of the tower, it's easy to appreciate why travelers have been climbing these stairs for nearly a century.

A Roadside Attraction with a Big Claim

The seemingly out-of-place tower was the brainchild of Charles W. Gregory—sometimes called "Colorado's P.T. Barnum"—and Myrtle Le Bow, who envisioned a roadside attraction where travelers could gaze across the High Plains and claim views of six states. Built in 1926 along U.S. Highway 24, the 65-foot structure earned the nickname "The Lighthouse of the Plains."

Gregory boldly advertised that visitors could see Colorado for certain and perhaps even the distant horizons of Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, New Mexico, and South Dakota on a clear day. Whether or not the claim was entirely accurate, it captured the imagination of travelers at a time when roadside attractions were flourishing across America.

An accomplished showman, Gregory knew how to draw a crowd. Using binoculars, he reportedly watched approaching automobiles from the tower, identified their license plates, and greeted visitors through a megaphone with state-specific welcomes such as, "How's the weather in the Hawkeye State?" Travelers soon learned they could stop at the Wonder View Tower to "eat, drink, gas, and pop" before continuing their journey across eastern Colorado.

A Landmark Reinvents Itself

After Gregory's death in 1943, the property passed through several owners, who expanded it with a motel, restaurant, and gas station. In 1967, Jerry and Ester Chubbuck purchased the attraction and transformed it into an unforgettable roadside curiosity.

Alongside the observation tower, visitors found an eclectic collection of oddities, including a two-headed calf, an eight-legged pig, more than 50,000 glass bottles, and tens of thousands of arrowheads. Following Jerry Chubbuck's passing, many of these artifacts were auctioned in 2014, and the tower once again fell quiet.

Thankfully, that wasn't the end of its story.

A group of Colorado artists and preservationists recently joined forces to restore the historic landmark, preserving both its colorful history and its place along one of Colorado's classic highway corridors. As of May 2026, the World's Wonder View Tower has officially reopened to the public for guided tours!

A Behind-the-Scenes Look

A scary (if you don’t like heights lol) final climb leads to the tower's rooftop observation deck, where visitors are rewarded with sweeping views of Colorado's High Plains!

Eliese and I had the opportunity to tour the Wonder View Tower just before its grand reopening, and hearing the story of its restoration firsthand made the experience even more meaningful. Our guides allowed us to climb the ladders to the outdoor observation platform, where panoramic views stretched for miles across Colorado's High Plains. I can’t lie—it was a little terrifying. I don’t do heights well, and I was literally shaking as I dismantled the century-old (although restored) ladder going to the very top of the tower. Eliese and I do a little bit of everything on the road, but heights are one of the few things that actually spook us!

One fun idea currently being discussed is installing directional markers on nearby properties, allowing visitors with binoculars to locate the distant horizons of neighboring states and decide for themselves whether the famous six-state claim holds true. Local farmers may or may not be in on the gag…or are they real welcome signs? You decide!

The restoration effort doesn't stop with the tower, either. Work is underway to transform the adjacent apartment into a fully functional Airbnb, giving travelers another unique place to stay along Interstate 70.

An Unexpected Family Connection

Sometimes the best surprises happen after the trip is over.

When we returned home, my mom mentioned that my great-uncle had helped construct the Wonder View Tower nearly a century ago while traveling the country doing construction work.

It's amazing how often unexpected personal connections emerge when you take the time to wander just a little more. ;)

Planning Your Visit

Whether you're driving Interstate-70 or exploring Colorado's eastern plains, the World's Wonder View Tower is well worth a stop. More than just an observation tower, it's a lovingly restored piece of roadside Americana that celebrates a bygone era of family road trips, bold advertising, and larger-than-life attractions. Support the volunteers and artists who have worked tirelessly to preserve this unique landmark, climb to the top, and decide for yourself whether you can truly see six states from one remarkable viewpoint. We picked up an awesome shirt for ourselves that also mentions the nation’s Bicentennial and Colorado’s sesquicentennial…so we’ll never forget when we visited!

These photos were taken during visits on May 16, 2026.

World's Wonder View Tower

30121 Old Highway 24
Genoa, CO 80818
(983) 900-8576

If you're planning a visit, be sure to spend some time exploring the little farming community of Genoa as well. Our Genoa town spotlight dives deeper into the town's history, attractions, and unique place on Colorado's eastern plains.

Panoramic views from the observation platform stretch for miles across Colorado's eastern plains—and on a clear day, some believe you can spot the horizons of six different states.

A few unusual curiosities are preserved at the renovated museum, including this two-headed duckling—a nod to the attraction's eccentric past.

We were fortunate to receive a private tour just before the Wonder View Tower reopened to the public following its remarkable restoration.

You can commemorate your trip with exclusive World’s Wonder View Tower merchandise available inside the gift shop. Please support their mission to preserve the tower if you visit!

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If you'd like to dive even deeper into Colorado’s towns and history, be sure to check out our forthcoming book Wandermore in Colorado (coming fall 2026), our pictorial and historical travel guide featuring all 273 municipalities in the state. Whether you're planning your next road trip or simply enjoy discovering Colorado’s hidden stories, it's the perfect companion for your journey.