You’ve probably seen the photos. A clear glass slide bolted to the side of a skyscraper, 1,000 feet above the pavement of Downtown LA. It was the "it" spot. If you visited Los Angeles between 2016 and early 2020, OUE Skyspace Los Angeles was likely at the top of your itinerary. It promised 360-degree views of the San Gabriel Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
Then, it just vanished.
Honestly, the timeline of what happened to this iconic tourist attraction is a bit of a rollercoaster. People still search for tickets every single day, hoping to slide down that 45-foot glass chute. But if you show up at the US Bank Tower today looking for the Skyspace entrance, you’re going to be met with a very different reality.
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The Rise and Fall of the Glass Slide
When OUE Ltd., a Singapore-based developer, poured $31 million into the US Bank Tower, they weren't just fixing the lobby. They wanted a destination. They created OUE Skyspace Los Angeles as a multi-level experience spanning the 69th and 70th floors.
It was bold. It was terrifying for anyone with a fear of heights.
The "Skyslide" was the centerpiece. Made of 1.25-inch thick chemical glass, it allowed guests to glide from the 70th floor down to the 69th floor on the outside of the building. It was a viral sensation before "viral" was even a tired buzzword. You’d get a little burlap mat, sit down, and try not to scream as you looked straight down at the cars on 5th Street.
But the business side of things got messy.
By the time 2020 rolled around, the world stopped. Like every other observation deck in the world, Skyspace shuttered during the initial lockdowns. However, unlike the Griffith Observatory or the Getty Center, Skyspace never actually came back.
Why OUE Skyspace Los Angeles Actually Closed
In September 2020, a massive shift happened in the DTLA real estate market. Silverstein Properties—the same group famous for developing the World Trade Center in New York—purchased the US Bank Tower for $430 million. This was a significant "haircut" from the previous valuation, largely because the office market was in a state of flux.
Silverstein had a different vision. They didn't want a high-traffic, tourist-heavy observation deck clogging up the elevators of a premier Class A office building.
They officially confirmed in 2021 that OUE Skyspace Los Angeles was permanently closed. The slide? Gone. The interactive "Infiniti" mirrors? Gone. The bar serving overpriced (but admittedly scenic) cocktails? Gone.
They spent an additional $60 million to renovate the building, pivoting away from tourism and toward "amenitization" for office tenants. This is a fancy way of saying they turned the 70th floor into a private lounge and workspace for the lawyers and tech execs who actually work in the building. It’s a bummer for the public, but it makes sense for the landlord. Managing thousands of tourists a week in the same lobby where people are trying to run a hedge fund is, quite frankly, a logistical nightmare.
What happened to the equipment?
It’s a weird mental image, right? A giant glass tube just hanging off a building with nowhere to go. During the renovations, the Skyslide was dismantled. It wasn't moved to another building; it was decommissioned. The structural modifications to the facade were filled back in. If you look at the US Bank Tower from the street now, the silhouette is back to its original 1989 form.
The Best Alternatives to Skyspace Now
Since you can't go to Skyspace anymore, you have to look elsewhere for that "top of the world" feeling in LA. You have options, but they offer different vibes.
The InterContinental at Wilshire Grand is the current heavyweight champion. Their lobby is on the 70th floor. Let that sink in. You take an elevator to the 70th floor just to check in. Spire 73, located at the very top, is the highest open-air bar in the Western Hemisphere. It’s windy. It’s expensive. But the view makes Skyspace look like a basement. If you want that "I'm looking down on helicopters" feeling, this is where you go.
City Hall Observation Deck is the best-kept secret in the city. It’s free. Or, it was—access has been spotty lately due to security changes, but when it’s open, the 27th-floor deck gives you a classic, 360-degree look at the civic center. It’s got a historical weight that the US Bank Tower lacked.
71Above remains the go-to for high-end dining. It’s in the same building as the old Skyspace! You can still get to the 71st floor of the US Bank Tower, but you have to book a table. You can’t just wander around with a camera. You need to order the three-course prix fixe or grab a seat at the bar. It’s expensive, but it’s the only way to see the view that Skyspace used to provide.
Comparing the Viewpoints
- Spire 73: Outdoor, fire pits, very loud, incredible height ($25+ cover charge usually applies).
- 71Above: Indoor, quiet, upscale, requires a reservation or bar spend.
- Griffith Observatory: Iconic, free to look (parking is a nightmare), but much lower elevation than DTLA.
- Perch: Only 15 stories up, but the "city canyon" feel is unmatched.
The Misconception About "The Tallest Building"
People often associated OUE Skyspace Los Angeles with being at the top of the tallest building in the West. That’s actually a point of contention.
For decades, the US Bank Tower was the undisputed king of the LA skyline. Then the Wilshire Grand Center was built in 2017. If you count the spire, the Wilshire Grand is taller ($1,100 feet$ versus $1,018 feet$). However, if you only count the highest floor you can actually stand on, the US Bank Tower is still technically higher.
Skyspace leaned heavily into this "tallest" branding, which made its closure even more of a shock to the local tourism board. It was the only place where you could see the "crown" of the building—the circular top that glows different colors depending on if the Dodgers or Lakers won.
What to Do Instead of Searching for Skyspace Tickets
If you’re planning a trip, don't get scammed by third-party sites that still have old landing pages for OUE Skyspace tickets. They aren't real.
Instead, pivot your Downtown LA itinerary to these spots that are actually open in 2026:
- The Broad: Still the best contemporary art museum in the city. It’s free, but you need to book tickets weeks in advance.
- The Grand Avenue Park: It’s right below the towers. You get a great view of the architecture without needing to pay for an elevator ride.
- Grand Central Market: Go here for lunch. It’s chaotic and loud, and the Eggslut line is always too long, but it’s the heart of the neighborhood.
- Angels Flight Railway: Just across the street from Grand Central Market. It’s the shortest railway in the world. It costs a couple of bucks and feels like stepping back into a noir film.
Is the View Still Worth the Trip?
Downtown LA has changed. A lot. The "renaissance" that was happening when Skyspace opened has hit some speed bumps. However, the architecture of the US Bank Tower itself remains a marvel of late-80s design by Pei Cobb Freed & Partners.
Even though you can’t slide down a glass tube anymore, the area around the tower—known as Bunker Hill—is the most walkable part of Los Angeles.
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Actionable Insights for Your Visit:
- Check Spire 73 Hours: If you want the Skyspace replacement, go to the InterContinental. Check the weather first; if it’s cloudy (The Marine Layer), you won’t see anything, and you’ll be out the cover charge.
- Dinner at 71Above: If you have the budget, this is the only way to get back into the US Bank Tower's upper floors. Aim for a reservation 30 minutes before sunset.
- Skip the "Ghost" Attractions: Avoid any site offering "VIP Skyspace Tours." These are outdated or fraudulent listings.
- Use Public Transit: Take the Metro A or E line to 7th St/Metro Center. Parking in the US Bank Tower area can cost upwards of $40 for a few hours.
The era of the skyscraper slide is over. It was a weird, sparkly moment in LA history that focused more on Instagrammability than long-term sustainability. Today, the US Bank Tower has returned to its roots: a place of business that happens to have one of the best views in the world—now reserved for the people who work there.