| TAKAHIK River Valley Hikers |
| Home Scheduled Hikes Pictures Videos Membership Links Trails & Waterfalls Products In Memory Of Scholarships |
| RICH MOUNTAIN LOOKOUT TOWER |
10-Miles Northwest of Mena on Hwy. 88 (Talimena National Scenic Byway)
 |
 Located on the Talimena Scenic Highway on the Ouachita National Forest, Rich Mountain Fire Tower is at the highest point on the road and is a popular picnic spot. The 42’ steel tower with a 14’x14’ Cl-100 metal cab was constructed in 1954 and used for fire detection until 1975. It replaced an unusual 6’x6’ wooden cab perched atop a 20’ log tower with a Spartan groundhouse living quarters. |
 Built in 1954 34.67388°, 94.32867° |
 Built in 1952 |
 The Latrine |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 1930s |
 1920s The first observation tower on Rich Mountain consisted of a pine tree with a platform. It was replaced in 1910 with a wooden fire tower. The tower manned by Mr. Amos Egger, his wife Grace and three children (Picture above), from 1923 to 1926. He and his family lived in a small crude dwelling under the fire tower. A few years later teh family moved into a three room cottage (Picture on left), built west of the tower. In 1924, the wooded tower was replaced with a metal tower measuring 7' x 7'. (Picture on right). A third residence was constucted in 1937 followed by a latrine in 1940. A third tower was consturcted in 1954. Itm, too, consisted of a metal cab; however, it measured 14' x 14' and stood 65 ' high. The tower was taken out of service in the mid 1970's. |
 1930s |