The Long Way
Jackson County
A red barn stands in a grassy field surrounded by trees.
Plate I. Barn and corral, Lodgepole Guard Station. From fs.usda.gov
Two brown wooden buildings with green trim stand in a grassy field near a forest.
Plate II. Cabin and grounds, Lodgepole Guard Station. From fs.usda.gov
A wooden fence encloses a grassy field with a backdrop of evergreen trees and a tall bare tree.
Plate III. Meadow and corral, Lodgepole Guard Station. From fs.usda.gov
A view of a traditional kitchen interior with white cabinets and a wooden countertop.
Plate IV. Kitchen interior, Lodgepole Guard Station. From fs.usda.gov
A rustic room features a green futon, wooden coffee table, and wood-paneled walls.
Plate V. Living room interior, Lodgepole Guard Station. From fs.usda.gov
An interior view of a room with wooden walls, a wood stove, and two chairs.
Plate VI. Interior, Lodgepole Guard Station. From fs.usda.gov
An interior corner with a small table, a wooden chair, and a window with plaid curtains.
Plate VII. Interior room, Lodgepole Guard Station. From fs.usda.gov
An interior room with wood-paneled walls and a green armchair.
Plate VIII. Living room interior, Lodgepole Guard Station. From recreation.gov

Lodgepole Guard Station

Butte Falls, Jackson County, Oregon. Guard station; March - September.

Details

Map. Butte Falls, Jackson County, Oregon. Larger map
Where
Butte Falls, Jackson County, OR. No street address stated. Directions
Getting there
County Road 992 north from Butte Falls: go 9 miles to Forest Road 34, turn right and go 5 miles to Forest Road 3400-600, unlock the gate and travel north / northeast 1 mile, then turn left through the gate and proceed 200 yards to the guard station.
Fees
$85 per night.
Access
Closed until further notice. Water source for cabin dried up and is not recharging.
Walk-in or reserve
Advance reservation through Recreation.gov; entry through the access gates and to the cabin is by combination lock, with the combination included in the confirmation letter.
Phone
(541) 560-3400
Website
recreation.gov
Managed by
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.
Established
1935.
Coordinates
42.65388649, -122.3790542.

Civilian Conservation Corps guard station cabin at Lodgepole Meadow designed to comfortably sleep 4 occupants; bedroom with a full-size bed, small closet and one dresser; living room with futon and coffee table.

Notable Events

  1. 1911The original guard station at Lodgepole Meadow was built in 1911; the 1935 CCC building replaced it. fs.usda.gov
  2. 1933Barn #2405, a rectangular wood-frame three-horse stable with a wood-shingled gable roof, dates to 1933. heritagedata.prd.state.or.us
  3. 1935The Civilian Conservation Corps built the guard station at Lodgepole Meadow as a remote guard station for early Forest Service crews. fs.usda.gov
  4. 1950sA non-contributing pumphouse was constructed adjacent to Building #1511 in the 1950's. heritagedata.prd.state.or.us
  5. 1991Lodgepole Guard Station was listed in the National Register of Historic Places, NRIS Reference Number 91000164, on 3/6/91. heritagedata.prd.state.or.us
  6. Lodgepole Guard Station was the base camp for Herb and Zella Wright's winter aircraft watch on Blue Rock Lookout; Forest Service guards skied or snowshoed through deep snow to bring them supplies and food every couple of weeks or so. fs.usda.gov

People

  • Herb Wright, Husband of a husband-and-wife lookout team who wintered on Blue Rock Lookout watching for enemy aircraft, with Lodgepole Guard Station as their base camp (WWII).
  • Zella Wright, Wife of a husband-and-wife lookout team who wintered on Blue Rock Lookout watching for enemy aircraft, with Lodgepole Guard Station as their base camp (WWII).
  • Lee Chapin Port, Forest Guard at Lodgepole Ranger Station, working for Forest Ranger James J. Simmerville of the Mosquito District (1914).

Sources

  1. recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/234631
  2. recreation.gov/api/camps/campgrounds/234631
  3. fs.usda.gov/r06/rogue-siskiyou/recreation/lodgepole-guard-station
  4. heritagedata.prd.state.or.us/historic/index.cfm?do=main.loadFile&load=NR_Noms%2F91000164.pdf
  5. heritagedata.prd.state.or.us/historic/index.cfm?do=v.dsp_siteSummary&resultDisplay=39420
  6. npshistory.com/publications/usfs/region/6/rogue-river/history/2/chap6.htm