View from Empire State Building’s new $165 million observatory is simply breathtaking

Empire State Building in New York is probably one of the most celebrated and most visited skyscrapers in the world. But what is more famous is the observatory atop the Empire State Building, which offers a mindblowing stunning view of the entire city. It has been a while since the observatory was shut down for visitors for renovation purpose. Now, the observatory is once again open for visitors after going through a whopping $165 million renovation. The new observatory opened to the public on Saturday.
The skyscraper experiences around 4 million visitors every year, wherein nearly 60 per cent come from abroad. The observatory, which is 102 floors above New York City, now features 360-degree windows offering an unparalleled bird’s eye view of the city. The floor-to-ceiling glass sheets have replaced the old ones that were half the size.

Those, who wish to enjoy the city’s highlights would be allowed entry till 1:15 AM. The new observatory features a high-speed, translucent elevator, which takes people up to the 102nd floor. Moreover, visitors can also enjoy the interiors of the whole building on their way up.
Not only this, at an additional elevation of 10000 sq ft (930 sq. meters), there are fresh exhibits, which includes a replica of King Kong’s (monster gorilla from the 1993 movie) hand that moves! Pictures of actors, who acted in the film are also on display here.

The best thing about this observatory is the fee hasn’t changed after all these renovations and remains unchanged at $58. Plus, visitors are also promised shorter queues.

Electronic kiosks have been installed at the entrance, from where people can buy tickets. The entrance to the observatory has been changed to West 34th Street and security stations have been increased to manage crowd.

It took almost four years and nearly $165 million to remodel the whole building, which was all financed by Empire State Realty Trust Inc.