A familiar sight in the Twin Cities skyline, the Prospect Park Water Tower, commonly known as the Witch’s Hat, could soon be welcoming visitors once more. Closed to the public since 2019, this iconic landmark is on the cusp of a resurgence.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Prospect Park Water Tower, better known as the Witch’s Hat, has been off-limits to the public since 2019. But there’s new hope and a plan for its reopening.
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The 110-year-old tower, a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places, offers spectacular views of both downtown Minneapolis and downtown St. Paul from its vantage point atop the highest natural hill in the city.
“They get up the top and they look and they get a smile on their face like this. Every one of them. Everybody. That’s fun watching.”,” says Phil Anderson from Friends of Tower Hill Park.
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Legend has it that Bob Dylan wrote “All Along the Watchtower” there in the 1960s. The tower last saw about 8,000 visitors during the two-day 2019 Open Doors Minneapolis event. However, one of the 117 steps gave way, prompting its closure. Two locks and a small amount of graffiti now meet those who venture up the hill to its entrance.
“This is a symbol of the neighborhood. I mean, it is as simple as that,” explains Phil Anderson. Friends of Tower Hill Park have been advocating for the tower’s refurbishment.
Recently, the city received estimates for three options: $50,000 to keep it standing $350,000 to make it safe for special events $1.3 million for extensive renovations to accommodate regular visitors
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“The goal has always been how do we reopen it? How do we make sure the structure is safe for, you know, multiple opening days, you know, throughout the week,” explained Ward 2 Council Member Robin Wonsley.
Wonsley says she would rather see the tower open more often but her office is examining the costs of maintainence and security. Neighbors say there will be no shortage of people offering free labor.
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“If they get the funds to open it up, I’m sure we can get the volunteers,” said Anderson.
City staff plan to solidify an agreement with the neighborhood group on shared responsibilities within the coming weeks. Though the timeline for repairs is not yet set, the future looks bright—especially from the top of the tower.
MINNEAPOLIS — The menu offers plenty of options, but fans of the Red Dragon say they’ll miss how the restaurant really nourished their souls.
“It feels like family,” patron Kathleen Spitzer told WCCO. “Everybody — the servers and bartenders — are so nice. It feels like a home away from home.”
Red Dragon’s current owner, Phil Wong, said the restaurant and bar will shut down on Sunday after nearly 50 years in business; it first opened on Dec. 29, 1976.
“People love this place. They like to come here and drink and hang out,” Wong lamented. “I love them all. They show a lot of love to us and they enjoy our establishment.”
The Red Dragon restaurant on March 18, 1994.
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According to Wong, 73, finances and his longevity were contributing factors. The former engineer took over the business from his brother in 2007.
“It costs a little bit more — the food, the meat, the vegetables,” he added. “Minneapolis, too, the minimum wage went up.”
Still, Wong said he leaves with no regrets.
“I feel good about it. I think it’s time to move on,” he said. “We’re ending on a good note.”
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Red Dragon is the latest of several Twin Cities eateries to shutter in 2024, including the St. Paul staple Tavern on Grand. Even newer restaurants, like Kim’s from award-winning chef Ann Kim, also in Uptown, could not survive.
Jonah Kaplan
Jonah Kaplan is WCCO and CBS News Minnesota’s investigative reporter and has built a strong reputation for his balanced and in-depth coverage of high-impact issues including the economy, immigration, education, public safety, and the military, among others.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Dozens of flights were delayed at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on Friday morning.
Dozens of flights delayed
By the numbers: According to MSP Airport’s website, as of 11:51 a.m., two departures were canceled and 36 were delayed. Meanwhile, 11 arrivals were canceled and 16 were delayed.
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FlightAware says there have been more than 19,000 delays and 525 cancelations globally, while there have been more than 3,400 delays and 525 cancelations within, into or out of the United States as of 11:57 a.m. on Thursday.
The weather forecast: This comes as a dense fog advisory is in effect until noon on Friday across Minnesota, and rain is expected for much of Friday and Friday night. There are also storms on the east and west coasts that could cause some travel problems.
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Several airports across the United States have ground delays due to weather, according to the FAA’s website.
Increased travel at MSP Airport
What they’re saying: The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) expected a 6% year-over-year increase in screened passengers between Dec. 20, 2024, and Jan. 6, 2025. Thursday, Dec. 26, was expected to be the busiest day during the stretch, with nearly 50,000 people expected to pass through security at MSP.
This week’s Fab Five photo display includes highlights from Minneapolis South’s 88-84 boys basketball victory over Minneapolis North on Wednesday, December 11.
The photos include two South players who led them with 22 points each (DeAmontre Scott and Eugene Brown), the player who scored 22 points to lead North (JMarion Sanders), North’s point guard who scored 14 points (Allen Hill), and a former Marshall University High School and Augsburg University great officiating the game (Ronnie Henderson).
Dr. Mitchell Palmer McDonald welcomes reader comments to mcdeezy05@gmail.com.
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