Lava Lite tower construction to start 2010

Conservancy spearheads project

SOAP LAKE - Construction of a tower featuring the pending oversized Lava Lite is expected to begin in two years.

The Soap Lake Conservancy has control of the Lava Lite and is working on a plan to build an eight-story climbing tower with the Lava Lite attached to the side, said Conservancy Representative John Glassco.

After speaking with engineers, architects, steel suppliers and sculptors, Glassco said it is expected to cost approximately $915,000 to build the tower. Glassco said the project will use approximately 40,000 pounds of steel.

At a previous meeting it was estimated it would cost approximately $850,000 to build the Lava Lite with frozen motion lights.

It will cost approximately $215,000 to build an elevator through the center of the tower, he said.

Glassco hopes to begin approaching legislators to secure funds to build the project.

The tower will be 75 feet tall with an informational kiosk on the top floor featuring information about ice age floods and historic information related to Soap Lake.

He said the observation tower may be eligible for grant funds due to the historic connection to the ice age floods and the Coulee Corridor.

The conservancy took control of the Lava Lite with the city council's permission late last year. The Lava Lite was moved out of the Port of Ephrata because the council declined to continue paying $600 per month for storage.

Before allowing the conservancy to spearhead the project, the city discussed throwing away most of the Lava Lite parts.