Top of the World Observation Deck Gets Renovation

Baltimore tourism operators should watch the state lease and January 2027 expiration as the 27th-floor attraction modernizes.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Remote Work

Wide view of a tall tower above Baltimore's Inner Harbor waterfront at dusk, with warm light glowing from its upper observation level. — Create Baltimore is renovating the 27th-floor Top of the World observation deck at the Baltimore World Trade Center after reversing a plan to close it, pending a long-term state lease. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should city-run public attractions be modernized even if it costs taxpayers money?

Create Baltimore plans to renovate Top of the World, the 27th-floor observation level of the Baltimore World Trade Center in Inner Harbor, after reversing an earlier plan to close it. The state of Maryland has agreed in principle to a long-term lease, which operators in Baltimore's tourism and attractions sector should track.

Why it matters

Create Baltimore first announced in early 2025 that the attraction would close in May 2025, but reached an agreement with the state in October 2025 to keep it open. The renovation, estimated at under $5 million, reflects officials' view that the 1979 space looks dated and needs modernizing to compete for visitors.

The renovation is estimated at under $5 million, and admission ranges from $5 to $8 depending on age. The attraction offers a 360-degree view from the 27th floor, and the state lease under discussion is a 20-year term.

The players

Create Baltimore

Create Baltimore is the nonprofit that operates Top of the World and manages cultural and tourism programming for the city.

State of Maryland

The State of Maryland owns the Baltimore World Trade Center building and holds the lease on the observation level.

Murphy

Murphy is the official who stated that Top of the World looks dated and needs to be brought into the 21st century.

The details

Planned upgrades include new art gallery walls, flooring, ceiling finishes, and lighting, along with an expanded gift shop. Interactive digital kiosks about Baltimore neighborhoods will be added, consisting of large touch screens paired with headphones for supplemental audio. The operator has kept the attraction running through a series of short-term agreements while the longer state lease is finalized.

1979: Top of the World opened on the 27th floor of the Baltimore World Trade Center.
Early 2025: Create Baltimore announced the attraction would close.
May 2025: The original scheduled closure date under the first plan.
October 2025: Create Baltimore reached an agreement with the state to continue operating the attraction.
January 2027: The current short-term operating agreement expires.

Market Landscape

The state-owned Baltimore World Trade Center observation deck shows how public landlords are weighing continued operation of aging visitor attractions. The renovation and long-term lease follow a reversal of the early 2025 closure plan.

Operators in Baltimore's tourism and hospitality sectors should watch for changes in visitor traffic as the renovated attraction reopens in under three years. Businesses that depend on downtown foot traffic may want to plan around the timing of the lease finalization.

The takeaway

Renovation projects tied to state-owned property depend on lease terms that can shift quickly, so operators should track the finalized agreement. Watch the January 2027 short-term expiration as the date that signals whether the long-term lease is in place.