The Mystery Behind Denver's Parisian Eiffel Tower Replica

Have you ever wondered why a piece of Paris was sitting in a dirt lot in front of Mission Ballroom in Denver? The area of 42nd and Wynkoop is apparently the Paris of Denver.

"No, it's completely out of place," said Beth Lakin, a resident of the apartment complex overlooking Denver's Eiffel Tower. "It's just in the middle of a random lot that is full of gravel."

"Very unromantic, un-Paris Eiffel Tower mini version right here," Lakin said. "They need to put up some lights. They need to bring a little bit more France over here. Maybe have a cute little restaurant."

Julien Constantino, another nearby resident, added, "You can just tell everybody and lie to everyone and say you were in France for a day."

Neither of them knew why the Paris landmark replica was in the dirt lot.

"Westfield, actually, had a tenant back in the mid-2000s that was an event décor production company and a vintage warehouse," Ally Fredeen with Westfield Company, the developer of Mission Ballroom, said. "The only piece that actually sat out on Brighton Boulevard, pre-sidewalk days I should add, was this quirky Eiffel Tower."

What do you think?

• Do you think the Eiffel Tower replica adds charm to the area, or does it seem out of place?
• Should more efforts be made to restore the replica to its former glory?
• What do you believe is the best way to utilize the Eiffel Tower replica in its current location?