REGIONS: ORIGIN SITE ~ Northeast WA, RE-Lo SITE ~ Northeast WA
The movement of the DNR Cab of the Flagstaff Mountain Lookout from its location atop Flagstaff Mountain to the Boat Launch Park in nearby Northport is a typical Type 1 re-location. It is also typical that the move was necessary to allow the placement of communication towers and equipment on the abandoned fire lookout site.
The entry for the Flagstaff Mountain Lookout on the FFLA’s firelookou.org web site reads: A 40 foot tower with a L-4 cab was constructed on the site in 1935 and replaced with a 40 foot pole tower with a L-4 cab in 1952. In 1971 a 40 foot tower with a live-in DNR cab was constructed on the site. The tower was dismantled and the cab moved to the town of Northport in 2013.
When the DNR decided that they would no longer be using the lookout, several possible alternate uses were considered including leaving it in place and putting into the lookout rental program. Three articles that appeared in the FFLA’s LOOKOUT NETWORKdiscuss these studies and the steps leading to the placement in the Northport park.
LOOKOUT NETWORK Issue 22-3, Autumn 2011: ~ “Future of Flagstaff Lookout in Question: The Washington State Department of Natural Resources owns Flagstaff Lookout, but it stands on Colville NF land. The DNR has notified the forest that they will no longer use the lookout and have requested that the special use permit authorizing it be revoked. As part of the revocation process, they would normally be required to remove the structure. The Colville considered taking over the lookout and putting it to some continued use. They are not interested in it as a fire lookout, but there were thoughts of converting it to a rental. Unfortunately, that may not be a very desirable option. As always, is the matter of funding to upgrade the facility to make it useable as a rental (and the fact that the forest has yet to get two other upgraded/restored lookouts into the program), and just as important is that the site is a designated communications site with three, and soon to be four, communication facilities that would seriously detract from the rental experience. There have been rumors of interest of the town of Northport being interested in acquiring it for relocation to a city park. Eastern Washington Director Rod Fosback is pursuing options, preferably to leave the lookout in place, with a reminder of the effects of a permanent loss of a lookout on the mountain and how much communities value them with their identity, but as a last resort to support relocation to a suitable site. “
LOOKOUT NETWORK Issue 24-3, Autumn 2013: ~ “Flagstaff Lookout Down: Rumored to be in the works for at least two years, Flagstaff Lookout was finally removed in August. The cab was lowered off its 40-foot tower with a crane by Verizon contractors, to be relocated to Northport. Plans are for a 150-foot cell tower to be in its place by October.”
LOOKOUT NETWORK Issue 24-4, Winter 2013 ~ “Flagstaff Lookout Cab Moved: The Flagstaff Lookout cab has safely been installed on a short section of tower at the Northport boat launch park by Verizon contractors. No word has been received on future plans for the DNR cab. The lookout was removed from itsmountaintop to make way for a 150-foot cell tower that is now in place.”
The cab from Flagstaff Mountain LO is moved to Northport’s Boat Launch Park.
Our visit to the Boat Launch Park ~ the RE-LO SITE for the Flagstaff Mountain Lookout
Peggy and I visited the park in Northport, WA on August 30, 2021. The Flagstaff Mtn LO Cab and catwalk had been mounted on a short tower in the park’s parking lot.
Our Visit to the Flagstaff Mountain LO Site, the ORIGIN SITE
After visiting the re-located LO in Northoprt, Peggy and I then visited the abandoned lookout site atop Flagstaff Mountain on August 30, 2021. When we came to this small tree across the road, we decided to walk the remaining way on the main road and gated side road to the lookout site.
In 2003 the cab was lowered off the 40-foot lookout tower with plans for a 150-foot cell tower was to be put in place by October. The high communication tower was there when we visited Flagstaff Mountain in 2021.
Two communication complexes occupied adjoining high spots atop Flagstaff Mountain.
The view from the Flagstaff Lookout Site included forested peaks, the Columbia River and Northport far below.