Editor’s note: this is the second in a two-part series on the restoration of historic fire lookouts in general and the fire lookout tower at Kennaday Peak in particular.
By Erik Gantt
“The lookout symbol is so iconic to our agency that when the Forest Service Honor Guard was developing a coin to give thanks to folks that have contributed to the agency or families of the fallen the lookout was chosen for one side of the coin,” Melanie Fullman, District Forest Ranger, said. “Every time that we lose a lookout I think just a little part of us in our industry dies, it’s just a tragedy.”
Volunteer Pat Lynch grew up in Oregon visiting lookouts with his brothers and said he now thinks of the structures as iconic. “Lookouts are the guardians of the country,” Lynch said.
The Future
The restoration of Kennaday lookout would be considered adaptive reuse since the character of the building will remain intact but the nature of the work being done is focused on making the building usable as a vacation rental. The plan for the lookout is to turn it into a short-term vacation rental.
When offered as a rental the tower will provide sleeping quarters for four to six people, a stove, a refrigerator, an outhouse and eventually potable water. The lights, stove and refrigerator will be propane fueled.
It is expected that the lookout will rent for somewhere between $40 and $50 per night.
Lynch said he has a vision for the future of the lookout on Kennaday Peak, “My hope is that once we get this on the rental program people from down in the valley would come up and rent it and stay a night or two … particularly if they can catch it when there is a lightning storm.”
Fullman said she hopes that the tower could be used a lookout in the future when conditions warrant.
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