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Category Follies and Grottoes, Outsider Architecture

In the mid 1920s, Bert Vaughn, a hotel owner in nearby Jacumba, built a four story tall tower in the empty Anza Borrego desert to "commemorate the pioneers and road and railroad builders who opened the area."

During WWII the "hurricane deck" of the tower was used as a lookout to make sure Nazi's didn't enter the states via Mexico. Today, not far from the tower, the border patrol keeps watch to make sure illegal immigrants don't enter the states via Mexico.

The tower provides a stunning view of the boulders and rugged desert plants surrounding the area. Interestingly, from the tower one can veiw another curious site; the whimsical carvings of W.T. Ratcliffe.

While unemployed during the depression an engineer named W.T. Ratcliffe used his skills to carve lions, Indian chiefs, and lizards in the boulders and caves around the tower.

Inside the tower there is a haphazard "Americana" museum, and gift shop all of which give the site a "lost in time" feeling, as if one had been transported to the 1920's when Vaughn built the tower. There is little in the beautiful surrounding dessert to suggest otherwise.

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• Address 1 In Ko Pah Park Rd, Jacumba, California, 91934, United States

• http://www.kuraoka.org/desert-view.html, http://pictures.discoversd.com/san-diego-attractions/a237.html, http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/9178, http://www.gbcnet.com/ushighways/80pics_d.html

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• joshua_tree July 12, 2009
  I visited the tower on my way to san diego from texas. It was windy and cold and almost lost my footing when i was trying to walk in. It was spectacular. I would recommend anyone that passes by to visit. The host is such a nice gentleman :)
• desertfairy July 12, 2009
  In the early 1980s Octoberfest festivals were held there. I remember driving in from El Centro and 1st stopping at Miller's Springs in Ocotillo, a gas station that is now closed, which use to be a sort of zoo.
• Anonymous July 4, 2009
  If you are ever making the drive between San Diego County and Imperial County, you must stop here. On a clear day, you can see the whole of Imperial County and the Salton Sea from the tower. Highly recommended!