Virginia Beach has many spots that boast beautiful waterfront views. But as summer ends, a new attraction will deliver the best expansive views of the coastline in an open-air observation deck.
Rising 125 feet toward the sky, the new Nautilus Observation Tower at Owl Creek Landing will be built on the 38 wooded acres located behind the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center and deliver 360-degree panoramic views of Virginia Beach.
The soaring tower will be the first of its kind in the United States. Modeled after similar structures in Europe, the 80-foot diameter steel structure will have a 7-foot wide circular path that leads to the top with education stations located at several points along the ramp. Each station features information about wildlife and native trees. Thrill seekers can descend from the tower on the longest stainless steel slide in the United States.
The tall tower will include the Canopy Walk, a collection of treetop trails suspended 40 feet in the air. On the ground, a half-mile, wooden-decked path will connect four themed tree houses that were constructed in Austria using wood from the Alps. A mile of complimentary walking trails will surround the attraction with seating areas. The tower design is fully ADA-accessible.
Outdoor Venture Group, which also owns the Adventure Park at Virginia Aquarium, is privately funding the new attraction. Owner Bahman Azarm said the idea of the tower came from Europe, where there are about 20 similar towers. He said they’re very popular.
Azarm’s design was inspired by the spiral ramp at the Guggenheim Museum.
“I wanted our tower to be fully accessible to anyone at any age,” he said.
He added that the construction of the tower is one of the most interesting aspects of the project. Due to the environmental constraints of the site, the tower has been designed so all the materials can be carried piecemeal across the Owl Creek pedestrian bridge. A special crane was designed and an innovative low impact foundation system was used that mimics the roots of a tree. The environmentally friendly foundation requires no concrete footings or digging of holes.
Azarm said he’s excited to bring this new outdoor concept to Virginia Beach. It’s been four years in the making. “People ask what do you do at 125 feet,” Azarm said. “It’s all about the views.”
Lee Belote, jlbelote@verizon.net
