The History of the Omro Fox Tower
A Story of Innovation, Family, and Resilience in Wisconsin’s Heartland.
Tower Construction Begins 1935
(Note the steel framework)
Before The Tower: A Pioneer Farm
After the U.S. treaty with the Menomonee Nation opened central Wisconsin for homesteading, members of the King family were among the early settlers to arrive—establishing their farm in 1847, when the area was still part of the Michigan Territory. Wisconsin became a state just one year later, in 1848. Over time, the original homestead expanded through the acquisition of additional parcels, including the land where the Fox Tower now stands, which became part of the King family estate around 1870. It was here that Charles Olcott King and his wife, Vesta Ann Cornish King, built their elegant Italianate farmhouse from sturdy local brick—laying the foundation for the family’s enduring legacy in the region, long before the tower would rise.
The Golden Era of Wisconsin's Fur Trade
By the 1920s, Wisconsin had become the nation’s leading producer of silver fox pelts, fueling a booming fur trade. In 1924, the Cole family, purchased the farm from the King family and built a wooden tower on top of the existing kitchen of the Charles Olcott King home to observe the prized silver foxes without disturbing them.
Commissioned by the Cole family in 1935, the seven-story Watch Tower was built to replace the wooden observation tower that stood on the property. This new structure was a bold expression of agricultural ingenuity during Wisconsin’s fur-farming boom. Designed with both practicality and innovation in mind, it blended durable industrial materials—steel I-beams, reinforced concrete, and tan brick—with the needs of a working farm. The tower featured living quarters, storage areas, and a top-floor observation deck, allowing for silent supervision of the prized silver foxes below. Today, it stands as a rare and remarkable example of rural innovation from an era when fur farming was as much science as it was business.
Tower Construction
Steel I-beams, reinforced concrete and brickwork built to endure.
Tower Design
Second and third floors housed living quarters; upper floors were used to store supplies with the sixth and seventh floors used for observation of the fox pens.
Tower Purpose
The top floors offered a quiet vantage point overlooking the fox pens below, allowing farmers to monitor the health, behavior, and safety of the animals without disturbing them. Given the high value of silver fox pelts at the time, the observation deck also served as a protective measure—helping to safeguard the farm’s most valuable asset.
After The Boom
Following World War II, demand for silver fox pelts collapsed and with it, Wisconsin’s thriving fur industry. Many other observation towers were made of wood and left to decay or demolished—but the Omro Fox Tower endured due to its industrial construction. Though battered by time, storms, and neglect, it remains one of the last of its kind—a quiet survivor of a forgotten era.
A Family's Commitment to Preservation
For generations, the King family has called this corner of Omro home. Today, they continue that legacy by preserving the Omro Fox Tower—not just as a monument to the past, but as a promise to future generations. Through restoration, dedication, and heart, the King family is ensuring that this rare piece of Wisconsin’s history endures.
A Journey Through Time
From farmland to fox farming, ice cream to preservation, the Omro Fox Tower has seen it all. Explore the key moments that shaped this one-of-a-kind Wisconsin landmark.
In 1935, the seven-story Cole Watch Tower was built to quietly observe the shy silver foxes. It became an iconic part of the region’s farming landscape.
In 2025, the King family reclaimed the property, launching a full-scale restoration effort to preserve the tower and its powerful connection to local history.
Be Part of Saving the Fox Tower
**The Omro Fox Tower has stood for nearly a century—but it won’t stand much longer without your help.**
Visit **SaveTheFoxTower.com** to support the campaign, or explore our **Current Status page** to see the restoration needs firsthand.