SUPERIOR HAPPENINGS GORDON AIRBNB PROMISES towering views

By Maria Lockwood Superior Telegram

At the intersection of nonprofit and Airbnb rests a piece of Douglas County’s Northwoods history.

Since Memorial Day weekend, the Gordon Fire Tower has welcomed dozens of visitors to the area. They played cards in the rustic cabin, roasted marshmallows over the fire pit, toured local parks and caught sunsets from the cab of the 100-foot tower — all for $99 per night.

Visitors have left glowing reviews. The cabin/tower combo has been called cute, peaceful, unique and breathtaking.

“By far one of the coolest trips we’ve booked through Airbnb,” wrote a September guest.

Although being handed the keys to their own private fire tower is part of the site’s allure, not everyone rises to the challenge.

“Some people haven’t made it all the way up,” said property manager Jesse Smith. “That’s the first thing I ask them on the day they’re checking out, if they made it to the top. And some of them haven’t. It’s pretty high up there.”

Even those who make it up three or four flights get some great views, he said.

Smith said the site is booked through Halloween, at which point it will close for the winter. The majority of people who have reserved stays are from out of the area. They learned about it through Facebook, Reddit and news stories.

“There’s a lot of people from Milwaukee