Then Ghazi led me to an unmarked door and took out a key. Or so I thought.Įvery article I had read about the Empire State Building refers to it as a 102-story building. Today, a tiny indoor observatory rests inside the top of the tower. High winds and strong updrafts made that impractical and the idea was abandoned after a few attempts. The 102nd floor was originally designed as a landing platform for dirigibles, with passengers unloading from the airships via a gangplank.
I was now high inside the building's iconic spire. I watched as the numbers climbed from 1,050 feet up to 1,250. This one was manually operated and instead of floor numbers, it displayed our elevation. But my hosts assured me more was to come and quickly shuffled me off to yet another elevator. I probably would have been content with the view from 86. It was muggy and hazy on my day, but I was still able to see most of the city as I jostled with camera-toting tourists pressed against the safety fences. Plus, it now had several environmentally-friendly upgrades to help tenants conserve energy. Marble walls adorn the ground floor and beautiful brass medallions honor the building trades - steelworkers, carpenters, elevator mechanics - that constructed the office tower.Īfter a $550-million restoration, which took a lot longer than one year and 45 days, the building is back to its original grandeur. But don't mistake speed for a lack of quality.
It just took one year and 45 days to build the landmark, which opened in May 1931. My VIP tour started in the glorious art deco lobby. Empire State Building is New York Landmark Note it's an extra $15 to also visit the 102nd floor observatory. Visitors can save some time by purchasing their $20 tickets in advance or pay $45 to cut all of the lines. During our summer morning visit, the line to purchase tickets was just 20 minutes long and subsequent lines to take elevators up and down seemed minimal. Jean-Yves Ghazi, who runs the observatory, told me that despite having record attendance in July, the longest wait was one hour and 15 minutes. Stay Up to Date on the Latest Travel Trends from ABC News on Twitter A small group of reporters were invited to see a refurbished lobby, spiffy new uniforms and a larger, air-conditioned space where tourists can line up as they wait for elevators. The folks who run the observation decks - the main one is on the 86th floor and a smaller, indoor space is on 102 - wanted to highlight their revamped visitor experience. Being a reporter for ABC News also doesn't hurt in - literally - opening a few secret doors. But unless your name is Johnny Damon, Pierce Brosnan or Roger Federer, don't expect to gain access to this space. More than 3.5 million people each year visit the Empire State Building's observation decks. But the other day, I got the rare opportunity to climb even higher and view the city from a tiny outdoor ledge that only a handful of people each year - mostly celebrities and dignitaries - are granted access to. Travel and trivia buffs will know that the highest vantage point in the city is the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building. Unfortunately, when I was treated to one of the most-unique vistas of New York, I was shaking so hard testing the limits of my nerves that I couldn't fully appreciate the view 103 stories up. 9, 2010 - The vast size of Manhattan's skyline can be best appreciated from high up - very high up.