Most will agree, the tower looks a little dated. The City of San Antonio thinks it’s time for an upgrade. Work on the Tower of Americas, built for the 1968 World’s Fair is expected to begin in May 2023. It will include improvements to the stair guardrails in the main tower shaft, emergency lighting, and repairs to the outside of the tower shaft.

The $11.7 million improvements will come out of public funds. A recent bond election included $10 million for improvements to the Tower of Americas. The city has added an additional sum of $1.7 million since. $2.6 million will be spent to upgrade public areas, including the façade and plaza, and the lighting and shade structures.

The city leases out the top carousel restaurant space to Landry’s Restaurants Inc. The bottom of the tower has a 4D theater and a Build-A-Bear Workshop. The tower stands at 750 feet tall.