Nipigon tower promises 'incredible' view to attract tourists

Visitors to Nipigon are expected to get a panoramic view of Lake Superior and the distant countryside once a lookout tower is constructed in the community.

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund is providing $1 million for the project and other aspects of a tourism development plan, Northern Development minister Michael Gravelle announced Wednesday.

Nipigon Mayor Richard Harvey said he expects the tower will boost tourism in the area.

“We're gonna have a 360 degree view that will be looking into Greenstone,” he said.

“We'll be looking probably almost over to Rossport. We'll be seeing all the way out to St. Ignace Island, possibly right over to the American border. It's gonna be an incredible view up there.”

Harvey said the Railway Street tower site is at the highest elevation in the community, and the tower itself will be 40 feet high, giving "a beautiful view.”

The lookout "ties into what we refer to as the lagoon area in town, where we'll have a boardwalk for recreational activities, in a protected area, right in the middle of town,” he said.

The tower will be “part of our waterfront, where we'll be developing our outdoor event centre,” Harvey continued.

“This is an integral part of a first phase, a $2.7 million project, all tying into bringing activity down to our waterfront area.”

Construction of the tower is expected to start in the spring. Harvey said he hopes it will be completed by next summer.

“By developing its scenic waterfront, Nipigon is building on its reputation for great fishing and magnificent natural landscapes and bringing tourists to the Superior North region,” Gravelle stated in a news release.

Nipigon officials also hope tourists will flock to see the first cable-stay bridge on the provincial highway system, which is being built across the Nipigon River as part of the four-laning of Highway 11-17.