Type: 41′ R-6 tower
Status: Abandoned
Elevation: 3,030 feet
Visited: June 29, 2014
UDPATE: In November 2024 the cab blew off the tower and smashed onto the ground below.
The Quail Prairie lookout tower was built in 1963. It used to be part of the rental program but around 2010 or 2011 part of the cabin caved in a little bit during a winter storm. The Forest Service doesn’t have the money to fix it so they’ve abandoned the lookout. Road 1917 to the lookout also has a washed-out culvert that is several years old, so it seems that this lookout is doomed.
This photo was taken in 2012 by Terry Musgrove and shows the damage to the wall. The Forest Service has since removed the bottom set of stairs so that people can’t go up the tower anymore.
More information
Forest Lookouts
Rex’s Forest Fire Lookout Page
National Historic Lookout Register
Peakbagger
Panorama Photos from Long Ridge
Geocache
History
When the Long Ridge Lookout was destroyed by the 1962 Columbus Day Storm, a 41′ tower with an R-6 cab was built on this spot. These pictures are from 2001 during the Craggie Fire:
Quail Prairie Lookout as a rental, c2010
After the lookout stopped being staffed it became a rental (pictured above), but was taken off the rental program after being damaged by a storm sometime in 2010 or 2011. It was basically abandoned, and deteriorated quickly. The cab blew off in November 2024. The ALERTWest webcam showed it still intact on November 19:
The next day it was gone:
