Mount Woodson Tower Site
US 519, CA 5

Lookout Details

Registry Numbers US 519, CA 5 (view other lookout sites in United States, California)
Date Registered April 13, 2009
Nominated by Brad Eells
Location San Diego County, California
Coordinates N 33° 00.518' W 116° 58.000' (view using Google Maps)
N 33° 00' 31" W 116° 58' 00"
N 33.008630° W 116.966670°
Elevation 2,874 ft (876 m)
Built 1948
Removed 1990's
Administered by California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection - Monte Vista Unit (Cal Fire MVU)

Description

The site is noted on varying maps as Mount Woodson or Woodson Mountain. The common reference is Mt. Woodson. The 1936 structure was an Aeromotor 7x7 Observation only cab on an 80' battered X-Brace steel tower accompanied by a BC-201 Fireman/Lookout residence ground cabin. The 1950 structure was a CDF Standard Plan 809R 15'x15' wood cab on a 30' enclosed, non-battered K-Brace steel tower. The 2nd and 3rd floors below the cab housed living quarters.

The 1950 lookout was apparently lost in a fire. New plans were drawn in 1968 for a replacement tower. Photos and descriptions of this structure have not yet been located. The 1936 lookout was likely constructed by Civilian Conservation Corps crews. The 80 foot tower would have been the tallest known in Southern California. The 1950 809R CDF design was a rare California only design...only 3 exist today...one of them is at Boucher Hill on nearby Palomar Mountain. The last lookout is noted as standing in a 1986 survey but demolished or removed by 1991.

Map

Change Basemap

Photos

Circa 1930's

Circa 1930's

BC-201 Residence Cabin - Circa 1930's

BC-201 Residence Cabin - Circa 1930's - courtesy of Don Russell

Tower Lost in a 1967 Fire

Tower Lost in a 1967 Fire

1966 Fire Captains School - Station and Lookout

1966 Fire Captains School - Station and Lookout - courtesy of Bob Robeson