Satus Peak is known for severe wind and over a different structures have been blown away or severely damaged by wind. In fact, this area is known to the Yakama as The Place Where the Wind Lives.

Numerous structures have been on the summit, starting with a cabin in 1920, a 10’x10′ cab in 1933, another cab in 1957, a heavy timber and frame cab in 1960, then a steel and wooden cab on 4′ concrete pillars in 1967. A lookout staffing the structure in 1967 told a story of cowering behind the firefinder during a windstorm that blew out the windows and caved in a wall.

The present steel structure was built in 1976 on a 2-story concrete foundation. It is constructed of reinforced iron beams and walls with steel-framed triple strength Thermopane windows. The lookout at Satus is staffed every season though the Yakama National Fire Management team says that finding lookouts is very difficult.