Will Rogers Tower lighting ceremony set for Wednesday

It’s been a long time since an iconic Cowtown landmark has lit up the sky, but that will change tonight.

After several decades of darkness, the iconic Pioneer Tower at the Will Rogers Memorial Center will once again shine bright. A ceremony honoring the moment will take place at 6 p.m. between Lancaster Avenue and the historic Will Rogers ticket booths that sit in front of the tower.

The tower, built in 1936, sits between the Will Rogers Auditorium and the Will Rogers Coliseum on West Lancaster Avenue. The buildings are listed with the National Park Service.

Speakers at the ceremony will include Mayor Betsy Price, District 7 Councilman and Mayor Pro Tem Dennis Shingleton, and interim Public Events Director Richard Zavala.

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“We will be there with bells on, getting rained on, it looks like,” Shingleton said with a chuckle. “But it’ll be fun, and it’s a glorious moment. It will be so great to have that lit again.”

Zavala said the lighting in the tower will be LED. The overall renovations will total around $4.7 million.

Parking is available on site.