The world-famous Empire State Building (ESB) just completed a huge makeover; from the stylish lobby through the brand new King Kong experience on the second floor to the soon to be open, indoor observatory, on the 102nd floor.
I woke up when it was still dark outside, so I could catch the sunrise from the new observatory. I had every possible winter gear on me as we start to feel winter in the city and I prefer to be warm and cozy. Also, I had a strong frozen memory of being on the rooftop without my beanie. While the new flashy elevator took us to the 102nd floor, I was preparing for the worst. We stepped out from the elevator to a breathtaking view and a cozy environment. Turns out, the new observatory is made of 360 degrees of unobstructed view made of floor to ceilings glass walls, and unlike the 86th-floor observatory, it’s a completely indoor experience.
The sun was barely out above the horizon when our press squad started exploring the space. We could see the lights shining at the top of the Crysler Building and the World Trade Center. We were walking in circles, observing the new angles of NYC and its landmarks that this new vantage point offered. Everyone was so excited that the commotion lasted for the entire duration of the press preview event.
The new observatory will be open to the public on Saturday, October 12, 2019. Ironically, while it took only a year and 45 days to build the entire Empire State Building, it took 4 years and $165 million to complete the new observatory. With over 4 million visitors per year, the ESB wants to curb the demand for the new 102nd-floor observatory by charging an extra $20. Note that the New York Pass doesn’t include the 102-floor observatory. As there are so many different sites that offer ESB tickets, I always recommend going to the official website for tickets.
If you have been to the ESB before or if you haven’t, I strongly recommend this immersive experience, as it is like coming to a home that you never knew you had.
It’s great to see how competition can wake up even an 89 years old building. With the recently opened One WTC observatory and the soon-to-open Edge, I’m glad to see ESB stepping up to the challenge – my beloved Art Deco skyscraper just got me falling in love with it all over again.