Lookin’ good, NYC.
The observatory at One World Trade Center opened to the public on Friday. Sitting atop the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, the observatory is located on floors 100, 101 and 102, giving visitors a bird’s-eye view of New York City ― and up to 50 miles beyond it ― from 1,250 feet in the air.
The Huffington Post got a chance to visit before the attraction’s official opening, and may we say: the experience is spectacular.
Upon entering at ground level, visitors watch video interviews from the proud construction crews who built One World Trade. The fastest elevators in the Americas then whisk them to the observatory, while life-size LED screens fast-forward through Manhattan’s growth from the 1600s to present.
In addition to stellar views, the observatory has three restaurants, including a reservations-only steakhouse with a tricked-out cocktail bar. Guests can cruise the three floors for all kinds of views, from Manhattan to New Jersey to the Statue of Liberty and beyond. A concierge stands in the middle of a bright LED circle, ready to give visitors recommendations for their stay in the Big Apple. On the elevator trip down, LED screens mimic a helicopter ride through the city sky.
Standard admission tickets for One World Observatory are sold online at $32 for adults and $26 for youths. Visitors will need to select specific time slots; summer hours are 9 a.m. until midnight.
Cheers to THAT!