Sugarloaf Fire Tower
US 186, AR 5

Lookout Details

Registry Numbers US 186, AR 5 (view other lookouts in United States, Arkansas)
Date Registered August 20, 1996
Nominated by Michael A. Pfeiffer, FFLA
Location Ozark National Forest
Stone County, Arkansas
Coordinates N 36° 05.017' W 092° 09.866' (view using Google Maps)
N 36° 05' 01" W 092° 09' 52"
N 36.083620° W 092.164432°
Elevation 1,089 ft (332 m)
Administered by U.S. Forest Service
Cooperators Sylamore Ranger District

Description

The Sugarloaf Fire Tower historic district was accepted on the National Register of Historic Places in October, 1995. The mountaintop, located on the Ozark National Forest, is the site of a remarkable group of stone structures constructed by the CCC in 1937 as living accommodations for the 100’ steel lookout tower with 7’x7’ cab.

Map

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Visit Reports

March 15, 2023: Anthony Smith

Condition

Needs paint? Yes
Shutters OK? No
Condition of wood OK? Yes
Stairs OK? Yes
Glass intact? No
Good condition? Yes
Comments: A locked gate blocks the mile-ish long gravel road to get to the tower. A path is visible where trucks have been able to drive around it, but if you're driving a low car or a non 4x4 expect to walk all the way up, as I ended up having to do. There is a ~500 foot elevation gain from this gate to the tower. Stairs are very solid, mild graffiti scratched into metal, no glass, and antennas that I assumed to be radio equipment are attached to the outside of the cab. There's a very old stone house next to the tower that was previously boarded up, but has been broken into at some point. There is also an old outhouse and a separate, small cement bunker like structure dug into the ground that I thought may have been used for storage at some point.

Electronics and Enroachments

Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? Yes
Comments: Yes, antennas.

Access and Signs

NHLR sign posted? No
Directions to tower signed? No
Comments? Locked gate to drive up to the tower

Staffing

Staffed? No

Opportunities for Volunteer Support

Volunteers staffing opportunities? Unsure
Volunteer maintenance opportunities? Unsure

October 25, 2012: Ruby Freeman

Condition

Needs paint? Yes
Shutters OK? No Response
Condition of wood OK? Yes
Stairs OK? No Response
Glass intact? No Response
Good condition? No Response
Comments: Locked radio room seems to still be active, other buildings boarded up and first set of stairs has been removed.

Electronics and Enroachments

Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? No
Other enroachments? unknown

Access and Signs

NHLR sign posted? Yes
Directions to tower signed? No

Staffing

Staffed? No

Opportunities for Volunteer Support

Volunteers staffing opportunities? No Response
Volunteer maintenance opportunities? No Response