Fire lookout towers provided housing and protection for individuals whose duty was to search for wildfires. I recently paid a visit to two of these lookouts in West Virginia: the Mikes Knob Tower and the Red Oak Tower.
Fire lookout towers provided housing and protection for individuals whose duty was to search for wildfires. I recently paid a visit to two of these lookouts in West Virginia: the Mikes Knob Tower and the Red Oak Tower.
The Mikes Knob Tower was built in 1941 atop Mikes Knob in Pocahontas County. It was later relocated to the Richwood Volunteer Fire Department station in Richwood for preservation. It is not open to the public.
The Red Oak Tower, standing 80 feet tall atop Red Oak Knob in Webster County, was a significant addition to the landscape when it was built in 196. It replaced a smaller, 30-foot tower built by the CCC in 1934. Notably, the Red Oak Tower was the last to be built and the second tallest in the Monongahela National Forest. Despite being in use for a brief period and essentially abandoned by 1976, the tower has recently been renovated and will be available as a rental next year, offering a unique outdoor experience.
