Rattlesnake Fire Tower
US 155, PA 6
February 2017 photo
Lookout Details
| Registry Numbers | US 155, PA 6 (view other lookouts in United States, Pennsylvania) |
| Date Registered | December 15, 1995 |
| Nominated by | Stephen J. Cummings, Bureau of Forestry & FFLA |
| Location |
Moshannon State Forest Centre County, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates |
N 40° 54.887' W 078° 00.601' (view using Google Maps) N 40° 54' 53" W 078° 00' 36" N 40.914785° W 078.010022° |
| Elevation | 2,432 ft (741 m) |
| Administered by | Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry |
| Cooperators | Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry |
Description
One can easily imagine how Rattlesnake Fire Tower got its name. The original tower was built in 1933 on a rocky ridge in Pennsylvania’s Moshannon State Forest. This 80-foot steel tower with 7’x7’ metal cab is strategically located and remains in active service.
As part of Pennsylvania's late-2010s fire tower upgrades, the original tower was replaced with a new 80-foot steel structure. The original tower was removed but its stone observer's cabin remains on-site.
Map
Change Basemap
Photos
Photo courtesy of Jack Kelley
Visit Reports
February 19, 2017: Jack Kelley
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | No |
| Shutters OK? | Yes |
| Condition of wood OK? | Yes |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | The tower and adjacent observer's cabin are in good condition, although the windows in the cabin may need repairs. The only thing of note about this tower is that, for some unknown reason, the landings have been expanded to be larger than normal, creating a large safety hazard in the form of very large gaps in the railings. Why the landings were expanded is beyond me, but there's no chicken wire covering the holes in the railings, creating chest-height, opened gaps that someone could easily fall through. |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | No |
| Directions to tower signed? | Yes |
| Comments? | There is a sign that says "Rattlesnake Fire Tower". |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? |
Sometimes
Apparently this tower is still staffed.
|
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | Unsure |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? | Unsure |