Razorback observation Tower

The primary observation tower in Eureka Springs is the Razorback Gift Shop and Tower (also known historically as the Ozark Mountain Fire Tower or Harley's Tower). Located at 579 W. Van Buren Street, this 100-foot-tall structure was originally built by the Arkansas Forestry Service as a critical lookout point for spotting forest wildfires across the dense Ozark terrain. Over the decades, it transitioned from a functional piece of forestry infrastructure into one of the town's most beloved vintage roadside tourist attractions.

As aerial fire detection technology advanced, the state forestry service eventually decommissioned the tower. Rather than being torn down, it was repurposed into a commercial novelty landmark. A charming gift shop was constructed directly around its base, featuring local decor, jewelry, rocks, and colored glass.

The Climb: Visitors can enter through the gift shop and navigate a narrow, steel, multi-flight staircase to the top (completely safe).

The View: The summit (top of the tower) rewards climbers with sweeping, 360-degree panoramic vistas of the surrounding Ozark Mountains, making it a highly popular stop for viewing sunsets.

Admission: True to its retro, small-town kitsch identity, admission remains just $1.00 in quarters deposited into a mechanical turnstile at the gate. And yes (as noted by many reviews) the tunstall gate ate my 4 quarters! LOL. I of course had no more change (who carries change now?). And the lady inside the store was very nice and insisted on giving me 4 more quarters and it worked to get in. This was a fun quick stop. The rock store is kind of quirky and fun.