In response to another distress call, SMS responds.
The winter of 2007-2008 brought extreme winds and heavy snow to the Siskiyou Mountains, and it was during this time that Wildhorse Lookout collapsed atop its 40-foot tower. Once again, SMS was urgently asked to respond due to the public safety hazard of having the remains of a lookout cabin half hanging over the side of the platform atop the tower.
| Quick Facts | Wildhorse Lookout |
|---|---|
| Agency | Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest |
| District | Gold Beach Ranger District |
| Elevation | 3,782’ (1153 m.) |
| Year Built | 1947 |
| Style | Hip-Roof L-4 with outriggers |
| Major SMS Work Efforts | 2008 (Salvage material from collapsed lookout cabin) 2009 (Tower repairs) 2014 (Excavated and installed footing for outhouse) |
| Season | Late April – mid-October |
| Location | 42.470950° N, 124.162300° W |
| Access | Road is gated about ¾ mile below the lookout. Road is washed-out in places above the gate. |
| Additional Notes | Work plans oft-deterred by fire closures (2017 – Chetco Bar, 2018 – Klondike) |
The SMS received a distress call in the spring of 2008… Wildhorse Lookout, it was learned, had collapsed from the same heavy snows that had done so much damage around the state that year. Janet Joyer, Heritage Program Manager for the Forest, soon identified Wildhorse Lookout as “The top heritage priority on the Forest,” and she made a compelling case for restoration of the historic building.
Wildhorse Lookout has a long and storied history. The original structure served as an Aircraft Warning Service (AWS) outpost during the winter of 1942, maintaining 24-hour watch for the anticipated Japanese invasion of the American mainland… an invasion that never fully materialized (although the only bomb dropped from a plane was launched from a submarine just off the Oregon Coast and landed about 25 miles south of Wildhorse Lookout near Mt. Emily Lookout).
Lookout staffers in the AWS during this period were specifically trained to spot Japanese aircraft.
A few years later, Wildhorse Lookout was actually crushed by snow for the first time in 1946-47. The present tower and cabin were constructed at that time, likely re-using many elements from the original cabin.
In the 1970s, the original windows were replaced with aluminum frame windows, weakening the cabin and contributing to the catastrophic failure in 2008.
Now — for the second time in its history — the lookout will be reassembled… this time by the SMS.
The salvage effort in 2008 was followed by the SMS contracting with Singletree and Associates to refurbish tower components that were damaged when the lookout cabin came crashing down. The SMS assisted with that effort, as well as the large-scale clean-up in 2008.
The SMS later returned to Wildhorse to construct a replica outhouse very near the original location. Upon completion, it is expected that Wildhorse Lookout will be made available to the public through the Forest Service’s Recreation Cabin Rental Program.