Genoa, Colorado & the Wonder Tower – Legends of America
Nestled in the vast expanse of Lincoln County, Colorado, lies Genoa, a town that whispers tales of the past, its landscape punctuated by the iconic Genoa Wonder Tower. This near-ghost town, perched at an elevation of 5,741 feet, holds the distinction of being the highest point between the bustling metropolis of Denver and the vibrant streets of New York City.
A Tapestry of History: From Plains Tribes to Settlers
Before the arrival of white settlers, the land surrounding Genoa was the ancestral home of various Plains tribes, including the formidable Comanche, the nomadic Kiowa, the resourceful Arapaho, and the resilient Cheyenne. These tribes roamed freely across the plains, their lives intertwined with the rhythm of nature.
The year 1858 marked a turning point in the region’s history with the advent of the Colorado Gold Rush. Thousands of prospectors and adventurers flocked to Colorado, driven by the allure of striking it rich. However, this influx of newcomers ignited tensions with the indigenous population, as it violated the 1851 Treaty of Fort Laramie, which had granted the tribes sovereignty over the plains.
The new pioneers, in their relentless pursuit of fortune, disrupted the delicate balance of the ecosystem. They felled timber along the riverbanks, hunted buffalo and other game, and their wagon trains trampled the grazing lands, leaving a trail of ecological damage in their wake. In response, the area’s warriors launched raids and attacks upon the encroaching settlers, but their efforts were ultimately unable to stem the tide of migration.
In 1861, the Treaty of Fort Wise was negotiated in an attempt to address the escalating conflict. The treaty granted the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes a reservation in eastern Colorado, encompassing parts of present-day Lincoln County. However, the treaty failed to fully resolve the underlying issues, and tensions between the settlers and the indigenous population persisted.
The Iron Horse and the Birth of Genoa
The 1860s witnessed the arrival of white ranchers, who began grazing cattle and sheep on the open range, driving their herds to market in Denver or Colorado Springs. The landscape of the region underwent a dramatic transformation with the arrival of the Kansas Pacific Railroad in May 1870.
Initially, the site of Genoa was merely a boxcar depot situated just east of the rise. The station was first christened Creech, in honor of a Rock Island executive, but was soon renamed Cable. As the railroad expanded, new settlers were drawn to the area, eager to stake their claim and build a new life. Among these pioneers were Karl and Augusta Martin, who filed a claim in 1893. Over time, they constructed a sod house, a granary, and other essential structures on their farm. Remarkably, descendants of the Martin family continue to work the farm to this day, preserving the original sod house and a large frame barn as testaments to their family’s legacy.
The railroad depot served as a nucleus around which a small community began to coalesce. The town’s name, Genoa, was chosen in honor of a railroad worker who was injured in an accident and longed to return to his hometown in Italy. By the turn of the century, the fertile lands surrounding Genoa were yielding abundant harvests of corn, watermelons, potatoes, barley, and winter wheat, among other crops.
The establishment of a post office in Genoa in 1903 marked a significant milestone in the town’s development. The town flourished, boasting a bank, a newspaper, grocery stores, hotels, a blacksmith, boarding houses, a hardware store, a moving picture house, and gas stations. Genoa became a hub of activity, serving as a vital center for the surrounding agricultural community.
The Genoa Wonder Tower: A Beacon on the Prairie
The construction of U.S. Highway 24 through Genoa brought with it the town’s most iconic landmark – the Genoa Wonder Tower. Rising majestically from the vast prairie, the 60-foot tower, built in 1926 by Charles W. Gregory, a railroad engineer and entrepreneur, resembled an out-of-place lighthouse.
Gregory’s vision extended beyond the tower itself. The attraction initially included a motel, a restaurant, and a gas station, offering travelers a convenient "one-stop" destination during the golden age of automobile travel. Gregory, known as Colorado’s P.T. Barnum, would stand atop the tower, using a megaphone to entice passing motorists to stop and experience the wonders of his roadside attraction.
Over the years, Gregory continued to expand and enhance his dream. He adorned the wood-frame additions with stone and transformed the interior into imitation caverns, creating a unique and captivating environment. The site also served as an official Greyhound bus station and a popular truck stop, further solidifying its role as a vital transportation hub.
In 1932, the Genoa Wonder Tower received national recognition when it was featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not, which claimed that visitors could see six states from the top of the tower. This proclamation was prominently displayed on the tower itself and on numerous billboards along the highway, drawing even more visitors to the attraction.
A Legacy of Oddities and Wonder
Following Gregory’s death in 1946, the property fell into disrepair, and it passed through a series of owners who operated the tower complex as a traveler’s rest area and community gathering place. Over time, the motel, station, and restaurant disappeared, leaving the tower as the sole surviving relic of its former glory.
In 1967, Jerry Chubbuck took over the reins, residing in an apartment at the base of the tower with his family. The construction of Interstate 70 in the early 1970s, which bypassed Genoa, posed a significant threat to the attraction’s survival. However, Chubbuck’s ingenuity and passion saved the Wonder Tower from oblivion.
Chubbuck added a room that served as an entry to an "oddity museum," showcasing an extensive collection of Native American artifacts and animal monstrosities, including a two-headed calf and a skeleton of a wooly mammoth. The museum also housed more than 20,000 Indian arrowheads, fossils, a wide array of bottles and insulators, farm implements, and other antiques. The World’s Wonder View Tower, as it was known, continued to captivate visitors for decades.
In 1995, the tower was recognized for its historical and cultural significance when it was added to the Colorado State Register of Historic Properties. It was also featured in numerous travel guides as one of America’s most curious roadside attractions.
A Glimpse into the Past
A visit to the Genoa Wonder Tower in 2006 offered a glimpse into the past, revealing a treasure trove of oddities and a panoramic view of the surrounding landscape. The steep climb to the top of the tower promised a vista encompassing Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, New Mexico, and South Dakota. While the claim of seeing six states may have been an exaggeration, the tower undoubtedly provided a magnificent view of the high plains and the distant mountains.
The vintage roadside attraction, despite its aging facade, exuded a certain charm. The cars parked outside the tower, though no more than rusting hulks, served as a ruse to attract passing travelers. Dummies peeking from the windows in the tower added to the quirky and whimsical atmosphere.
A New Chapter for the Wonder Tower
The death of Jerry Chubbuck in 2013 marked the end of an era for the Genoa Wonder Tower. His family made the difficult decision to close the increasingly decrepit attraction, auction off most of the contents, and put the buildings up for sale.
In July 2016, a consortium of longtime Colorado residents formed an organization to save the historic folk-art attraction. They purchased the closed-up tower with the aim of preserving the structure as a Colorado landmark, ensuring that its legacy would endure for generations to come.
Today, the Genoa Wonder Tower stands as a silent sentinel on the prairie, its doors closed to visitors. The town of Genoa, once a bustling hub of activity, has seen its population dwindle to around 130 residents. The post office and the grain elevator appear to be the only businesses still in operation, while the rest of the town’s businesses remain abandoned, their empty storefronts whispering tales of a bygone era.
The Genoa Wonder Tower, located at 30121 Frontage Road in Genoa, Colorado, remains a testament to the ingenuity, perseverance, and entrepreneurial spirit of Charles W. Gregory and Jerry Chubbuck. Its story is a reminder of the allure of roadside attractions and the importance of preserving our cultural heritage.