Space Needle debuts significant elevator upgrade
May 26, 2025, 6:45 AM
The Space Needle stands over the Seattle skyline in Seattle, Washington. (Photo: John Moore, Getty Images)
(Photo: John Moore, Getty Images)
The Space Needle unveiled its new double-decker, glass-door elevator to the public Friday.
The elevator, dubbed the “Skyliner,” will give people a better view of the city and the Puget Sound region as they rise to the top of the iconic monument.
It has the same gold color, with floor-to-ceiling glass—the first of its kind in North America.
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“The new elevator is more than a way up, it’s a symbol of where we’re headed,” Ron Sevart, the Space Needle President and CEO, said in a press release. “This reinvestment reflects our commitment—to our Guests, our Team Members, and our community—to ensure the Space Needle remains a symbol of Seattle’s innovative spirit for generations to come.”
It’s the first of three double-decker elevators to be installed in the Space Needle by 2028. Each cab fits 15-20 riders, with the ride taking approximately 41 seconds going either up or down.
Otis, the company that designed and installed these new elevators, began its work on the Skyliner elevator in 2022. Otis created the original elevators for the Space Needle, as well as those in the Eiffel Tower.
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