The Red Oak Fire Lookout tower in the Monongahela National Forest opened for public overnight reservations on Aug. 28, and within four days, every available slot from late August through the end of November booked completely solid, according to West Virginia Public Broadcasting. Campers can now rent the 80-foot steel tower in Webster County for stays ranging from a single night up to two weeks.
Inside the Restored Webster County Lookout
Steel stairs lead 80 feet up to a 14-foot square cabin equipped with panoramic windows, a metal catwalk, electricity, and two twin beds. While the cabin sleeps two people, the ground-level campsite includes dedicated spaces for larger parties to pitch tents or park a camper. The toilet facilities are located on the ground level, and running water is not available inside the tower structure.
Fire detection was mainly done through these lookout sites.”
The Forest Service decommissioned the structure when aerial detection using planes and helicopters replaced stationary lookouts, eliminating the need for fire wardens to live on-site for weeks at a time.
Historic Role of Forest Wardens
The Civilian Conservation Corps originally built a shorter wooden version of the Red Oak Fire Tower in 1934, when logging operations left the surrounding forest largely stripped of mature trees. As timber regrew, workers replaced the original structure in 1964 with the current taller steel tower.
Wardens spent isolated stints lasting at least two weeks, monitoring weather patterns, tracking relative humidity, and recording wind direction. Most forest fires in the remote terrain ignited from lightning strikes. When wardens spotted smoke, they relied on telephone lines connected to neighboring towers and district ranger stations to triangulate the exact location.
Booking and Access Details for Future Visitors
The Red Oak Fire Tower operates seasonally from April 15 through the end of November. The Forest Service closes the rental during the winter months because local access roads are not maintained for snow and ice.
Visitors seeking to book a stay for the next operating season can submit reservations through the recreation.gov website beginning on January 1.