WATERTOWN, N.Y. -- It's been a while, but visitors to Watertown's Thompson Park Zoo will once again be able to get a different perspective of the various animals.
The historic DEC fire tower at the zoo is once again open. Believed to have been built 60 to 70 years ago, the tower was originally in Lowville to help spot fires.
The zoo acquired it in the 1990s and had it opened to guests until about six years ago when its condition got bad enough that it had to be shut down.
This year the zoo received money to fix it up, and now it's back open. There's still some work to do, but zoo leaders say they're thrilled people can start enjoying the views once again.
"Personally, I started here three years ago and it was closed which I thought was a big bummer. We just really like having that local tie-in, especially since it is from Lowville. It's not a real Adirondack tower, but it is a more local fire tower so it really ties-in with our local area and the animals and everything," zoo educator Elizabeth Elco said.
Officials say there's still some custom mesh work that needs to go in, along with some decorative pieces. It has the same hours as the zoo itself.