Join us in preventing the demolition of a historic, iconic, and American landmark by signing this petition, sharing it on social media, and contacting a decision maker to further get our message across as a community.

We propose that the City of Idaho Falls allow an independent group to renovate the tower to be a public observation deck and event space so that our Red, White, and Blue Water Tower will be to Idaho Falls what the Space Needle is to Seattle or the Gateway Arch is to St. Louis. We are not suggesting that the city do or fund the preservation of the structure in any way. We are suggesting a third party will secure funds from investors and programs like the Idaho Heritage Trust, Yellowstone-Teton Territory Grant and similar offerings.

Let’s keep our Red, White, and Blue Water Tower where it is and have the City of Idaho Falls transfer ownership of the tower to a developer and investor group in the same way the city did with the Savings Center on Memorial Dr and W. Broadway. Do you remember before 1999 when the O. E. Bell building was condemned and abandoned? It is a good thing it wasn’t demolished. The city will no longer have an expense and liability to tax payers by taking down the water tower or maintaining it. The city will still have in place new infrastructure lines and a new water tower to support our growing community. 

Tax payers, utility payers, and tourists alike will benefit from our Red, White, and Blue Water Tower remaining in place with the development of an observation experience at the top. Envision yourself taking the elevator up as you see the Snake River and Idaho Falls from an eagle’s vantage. There inside the once-massive reservoir of water you walk through a history gallery about Eagle Rock, Taylor’s Crossing, and the rise of hydroelectric power for our city. One floor is a tourist/local filled restaurant viewing the famous Grand Tetons, one floor is rented out for a wedding reception, and the INL is hosting an influential meet and greet of world renowned specialists on yet another floor.

The estimate on record to repair the structure to meet standard codes is $4 million. Currently the tower holds nearly 2.5 million pounds of water. The proposed conversion to a commercial space would include three floors at the top of the structure for 6,000 + sq ft floor space which would be half the weight that it is currently holding in water. 

We must take action now to make this into a reality because the City of Idaho Falls has already started building the new water tower and the demolition of our Red, White, and Blue Water Tower is eminent.

Our Red, White, and Blue Water Tower was built the same year that San Francisco opened the Golden Gate Bridge. Structures like this become part of a city's identity. Let's keep it that way.   

Thank you for joining us in signing this petition and sharing it with your friends, family, and colleagues. Please also consider contacting any of the decision makers listed here to really emphasize our voice as a community. 

Rebecca L. Noah Casper -Mayor 
mayor@idahofallsidaho.gov

Michelle Ziel-Dingman -City Council
mdingman@idahofallsidaho.gov

Thomas Hally -City Council 
thally@idahofallsidaho.gov

Jim Freeman -City Council
jfreeman@idahofallsidaho.gov

Jim Francis -City Council 
jfrancis@idahofallsidaho.gov

Lisa Burtenshaw -City Council 
lburtenshaw@idahofalls.gov

John Radford -City Council 
jradford@idahofallsidaho.gov

David Richards -Water Division
drichards@idahofallsidaho.gov