Automobiles and the promise of paved roads brought opportunity to the Irish Hills. In the 1920s, anticipating change, two long-time neighbors erected competing observation towers to attract visitors to the spectacular views of area lakes and hills. The towers spawned a thriving mix of roadside attractions that included inns, a campground, restaurants, dance halls, a picnic grove, a small zoo, carnival rides and a golf course. It was not until 1957 that the towers' ownership was unified, and eight years later a bridge connected their tops. It was claimed that 10 lakes could be seen from atop the towers.