Click Picture to watch video of each tower.
Click tower name to go to location on blog.
30.896009421652145, -87.15847447514533
3778 Greenwood Rd, Jay, FL 32565 (Co Rd 164)
Santa Rosa County Fl.
This tower is not on the National Historic Lookout Registry at this time.
Allison (Rudderhill) Tower
Registry #’s US 866, AL 45
32°09’43.1″N 88°09’16.7″W
Allison Fire Tower is also known as Rudder Hill Tower
According to the National Historic Registry, “Allison Hill Lookout Tower is a 100′ International Derrick tower with a 7’x7′ cab. It was constructed in 1953 by the Allison Lumber Company as a replacement for their earlier wooden Rudder Hill Tower.”
Registry # US 853, AL 32
Blacksher Tower is located on Tower Road ESE of Uriah Alabama.
It is in Monroe County, Alabama
31°19’12.0″N 87°33’36.0″W
This tower was constructed in 1941.
Blacksher is a 120′ It is an International Derrick tower with 7’x7′ cab.
It was started by CC Camp 1485 and completed by the AFC.
Blacksher Tower near Uriah was last manned by Forest Rangers Ernest Johnson and Johnny Kline. Blacksher Tower was manned until around 1988.
The following information was graciously shared by his daughter of Mr Ernest Johnson, Judy Johnson Hendrix. “Ernest A. Johnson began working with the Forestry Commission as a forest patrolman at Blacksher Firetower in October, 1963. He retired in March, 1990 having reached the rank of forest ranger. My mother, Bendia Johnson, worked as the towerman that first fire season (fall and winter.) When it was not fire season, the state did not employ a towerman, the patrolman would man the tower. We lived in a four-room house (owned by the state) near the foot of the tower. When we first moved there, the only indoor plumbing was a cold water pipe to the kitchen sink. (We did eventually get an indoor bathroom.) Around 1985, the state decided to no longer maintain these houses, so my parents vacated the house. I have many fond memories growing up at Blacksher Firetower. I served as part-time towerman from the time I turned 16 until I graduated from high school, November, 1966 to June, 1969. My sister, Kathy Johnson Anthony replaced me.”
Mr Will McKinley served on it before then Mr Johnson.
If you have info on who served and what years please share in the comments below.
Registry # US 895, AL 53
Brooks Tower is located in Conecuh County Al.
County Road 24
Red Level, Al 36474
31°26’24.0″N 86°43’12.0″W
The National Historic Registry states The original Brooks Fire Tower was a 100′ wooden tower. In 1962 the Alabama Forestry Commission replaced it with this 100; Aermotor MC-39 tower with 7’x7′ cab.
Photo and video were shot February of 2016 with a Chroma Drone.
Reg #’s US 864, AL 43
32°01’51.6″N 88°16’14.6″W
Choctaw County Al.
Butler Mountain sits atop a 428′ Elevation
Butler Mountain Lookout Tower is a 100’Aermotor MC-39 with a 7’x7′ metal cab. It was constructed in 1948.
Reg #’s US 1490, AL 75
Fatama Tower is located on the West Side of Al 265 South of Camden Al
31.89248549137415, -87.23723497004855
100 foot steel tower. Construction started in Oct and finished November 1941 by Vrendeburgh CCC camp.
If you have information on this tower it would be greatly appreciated if you would sign into Rumble and comment on the video.
I did receive information that this is Al #33 on the official state list.
Fatama Tower was added to the National Historic Lookout Registry Jan 8, 2021.
Registry # US 1415, AL 74
Located just outside of Grove Hill Alabama at the Office of the Alabama Forestry Commission office.
31.7356560, -87.7573020
31.105114, -85.151210
Al #29 Not listed on the National Registry
The best information I have on it is this is a 100′ tower.
It appears to me to be an International Derrick.
At the time of the last update I have on information it was still owned by the State.
According to Hunt X maps it sits on a tile over 2 acres of land owned by the State.
Registry # US 863, AL 42
Located near Chatom Al in Washington County
31.531052,-88.247412
Described by the National Registry, Jordan Fire Tower was built in 1935 by the CCC. It is an 100′ Aermotor MC-29 structure with a 7’x7′ cab.
If you have info on this tower please share it in the comments section.
Al #8
Wilcox County
32.088711, -87.542584
This tower sits on an elevation of 357′ and is a 100′ Steel Tower.
It is only one of two towers standing in Wilcox County, Al and is the northern most tower in Wilcox County.
It is located a short distance from Bradley Road. It is South of the community of Lamison and maps place it as Arlington.
Any Further information on this tower would be greatly appreciated.
Reg #’s US 850, AL 29
31.786054, -87.335826
Lookout Hill Tower was built by a junior African-American Company 4435 at CCC camp P-76 in 1939, Lookout Hill Fire Tower is a 100′ MC-39 tower with 7’x7′ cab.
Of all of the towers that I have had the privilege of of filming and documenting this one holds a special significance for me.
My Grandfather Will Knight worked for the Alabama Forestry Commission from 1933 till 1966. In the latter years that he worked he was tower man on this tower.
As a child I would often times get to come out and sit on this tower with him on Sunday afternoons. It holds many memories for me of good times with my grandfather.
The last time I got to climb this tower was in 1983. that day it was locked and I did not get to go into the cab.
In the very 1950’s and very early 1960’s there was a family that lived at the tower and manned it by the last name of Findley. To the best of my knowledge they were the last family to live in the house that was at the base of the tower.
The tower site is part of the Red Hills land management area for the Red Hills Salamander. The area referred to as The Red Hills is probably about 5 air miles to the west. The entire area is named after the color of the soil, predominantly red clay gravel. The Red Hills Salamander is a threatened species of Amphibian salamander. The salamander habitat begins in southeastern Wilcox County and ends in Western Butler County.
Quoting Mr Gary Cole “I was the last tower man at Lookout Hill. I was the Forest Ranger assigned to north Monroe County beginning in June of 1976. I manned the tower until 1982 when I became the County Forestry Supervisor. Jane Ellen Briggs was the tower person before I started. Her husband was the Forest Patrolman.”
The house at the base of the tower was torn down prior to 1976.
Registry number US 873/ Al 50
Located off of Al 113 South of I65 in the Pineview Community of Escambia County, Al.
Mashmayer Lookout Tower. It is a 120′ metal tower with 7’x7′ cab built in 1938.
This photo and the corresponding video were shot on a windy afternoon in February of 2016 using a Chroma Drone.
If you have information on this tower please comment.
Reg #’s US 814, AL 15
31.694783, -86.686136
According to the NHLR this tower was built in 1936. It is 120′ tall McGowin Lookout was built by the CCC and known as McKenzie Lookout. It was moved in 1966 by the Alabama Forestry Commission to its present location.
Al # 80 Not listed on the National Registry
31.134198, -85.376515
Located in Houston County, Al.
Anyone with info on this tower please message it to me.
Thanks.
# 857 US Registry AL#36
32°04’22.5″N 86°43’07.1″W
32.072903, -86.718627
Lowndes County
US 97, AL 1
31°05’50.7″N 86°33’19.8″W
Located in the Conecuh National Forest just a few miles North of the Florida State line.
Open Pond Tower is located in Covington County Alabama.
It is a National Forest Service Tower in the Conecuh National Forest.
Built in 1938-39 by Company 3474 of the CCC.
It is a 100′ structure and was made by Jones & Laughlin Steel.
This tower and the Parker Springs Lookout which is also in the Conecuh National Forest are the only two wooden 12′ X 12′ towers with catwalks in the state of Alabama.
This is a very unique tower for Alabama. It is one of three towers in the very Southern part of Alabama that have larger cabs and side entrances rather than the bottom entrances that the vast majority of those scattered through out the state have.
This tower went through a renovation approximately 2007. It was repainted and the wood steps and cat walk were replaced as well as the shingle roof. The map wheel was also replaced about that time.
Open Pond Tower has not been staffed since 1975.
Note the controlled burn taking place in the photo.
US 1076, AL 60
31°02’39.6″N 86°48’31.3″W
Located near the community of Bradley Al. Only a few miles north of the Florida State line.
This is a unique tower to South Alabama in the fact that it has a 12′ by 12′ cab.
Only two of these towers are still standing in Alabama the other is Open Pond which is a few miles away in the Conecuh National Forest also.
Parker Springs Lookout was built in 1937.
It is a National Forest Service Tower and it Located in the Conecuh National Forest in Escambia County Al.
Al #153
31.483539, -87.757420
This tower is located at Gaines Town Al in Clarke Clarke County.
This is a 100′ tower.
If you have info on this tower please comment and I will add it to this tower.
River Falls (Point A) Lookout Tower
Reg #’s US 1399, AL 73
31.353919, -86.513481
River Falls Al
Covington County
This is a 100′ tower. It is located On Heath Road. River Falls, Al
If you have any further information on this tower please leave it in the comments below.
31.824081, -87.927639
Al #105
Sandhill Lookout is located in Clarke County Al in the Scotch Management area.
It is a 100′ Tower.
It is Al #105. It was added to the NLHR May 22, 2022 as #1594. If you have any information on this video please comment on my website.If you have any information on this video please comment on my website.
Reg. #’s US 865, AL 44
32.123744, -88.358121
Scott Mountain Tower is located in Choctaw County Al.
This is a 120′ Aermotor MC-39 model.
It was completed in 1949.
It sits at an elevation of 504′
#42 on the Alabama State listing.
31.597727, -86.991468
This tower is located a short distance from Al hwy 83 North of the Bowles Community.
I have very little other info on this tower at this time. I will update it as info is found.
US 851, AL 30
30.702260, -87.774990
Simerly Fire Tower was built in 1963.
It is located on Al hwy 59 South of Stapleton Al.
Thousands of people pass Simerly Tower every day traveling to and from the beaches in Southern Baldwin county al.
Simerly is the Southern most tower in Alabama.
It is a 100′ Aermotor MC-39 tower it replaced a 91′ creosote lookout tower.
If you have any info on this tower’s history please comment below.
Al 146
31.947903, -87.733044
Thomasville Lookout is Located beside Al 5 North of Thomasville, Al
At the time of this video I have little other information to go on. If you have information on this tower please add to the comments or contact me directly and I will add it. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
US 874, AL 51
31°06’40.4″N 87°01’41.6″W
Located on Co Rd 22 (Ridge Road) Brewton, Al Escambia County
Built in 1938
This is a unique tower to lower Alabama. it is actually a double cab tower.
As described on the National Historic Registry “There is no other lookout cab like Underwood Lookout Tower in the 900+ listings on the NHLR. Constructed in 1938, the Alabama Forestry Commission builders stopped at 60′ where the sloped legs measured 14’x14′ at the top, instead of 90′ where a 7’x7′ cab would be mounted. Two 7′ wide sections of a metal cab were joined on each of the four sides creating a unique 14’x14′ cab.”
Reg #’s US 1491, AL 76
Wallace Tower is located off of Al 41 a short driving distance South of where Hwy 41 crosses I65. Going south it is on the right hand side of the road.
31.232249557654747, -87.19303431514209
If you have information on this tower it would be greatly appreciated if you would sign into Rumble and comment on the video.
I did receive info that the tower is Al #62 on the official state list.
This tower was added to the National Historic Lookout Registry 1/8/2021.
Registry # US 854, AL 33
Wildfork Tower is located on the Monroe County Side of the Old Stage Road which is the county line.
31°21’13.3″N 87°20’10.0″W
According to he National Historic Registry it is one of the few remaining 120′ towers, Wildfork Lookout is an International Derrick model with sun visors on the cab. It started by the CCC and completed by AFC in 1941.
Wildfork Tower on the Old Stage Road was last manned by Forest Ranger Colbert Wright of Excel. Colbert retired in 1981 and the tower was closed due to budget restrictions.
If you have info on who worked and especially the years also on it please share in the comments below.
There are two videos linked. One was shot in 2016 and the other one was shot in Dec 2020
Womack Hill Tower (Daniels Fire Tower)
Reg #’s US 869, AL 48
Womack Hill Tower is also known as Daniels Fire Tower on some maps.
Sits in Choctaw County Al
31°51’43.4″N 88°11’37.8″W
Womack Hill Tower was built in 1951
The Womack Hill Lookout Tower is a 100′ Aermotor MC-39 with a 7’x7′ cab.
