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 h 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.
https://rumble.com/vemikd-open-pond-lookout.html