Spades Mountain Lookout

Drive-Up	Destroyed
Elevation: 5038′	Coeur d’Alene National Forest

History

1923 – Camp established
1926 – 50′ pole with 7×7 cab added
1928 – Log cabin added for living quarters
1941 – 54′ steel tower erected
1963 – Steel tower moved to Long Mountain Lookout
1963 – 67′ wooden tower with R-6 cab installed
2015 – Torn down

Due to the easy access to the tower and proximity to Coeur d’Alene, this tower was a popular hangout spot and was frequently vandalized. Multiple efforts attempted to save the tower, but the USFS decided it was too large a liability and tore it down in 2015.

Local photographer and adventurer, Chris Celentano of CDC Photography helped lead the charge to both save the tower and potentially rebuild a new tower in its place to be put on the rental program. Spokane area tv stations covered the initial push for this, but soon community excitement died down, and no additional progress has been made on this project.

Chris was nice enough to allow us to use some of his photos from Spades before it was torn down.

Known Staff

1932 – Mick Clumper (Moved to Spades after closing Bumblebee) (*Former Forest Fire Lookout Registry)
1945 – Mabel Rose and Marjorie Olson (both 19 yrs old)
1948 – Dean Gilbert (*Kellogg Evening News)
1955 – William & Laetitia Smith (*Honolulu Star Advisor)
1964 – Mr. & Mrs. Cecil Hanson (*USFS PHOTO COLLECTION)
1970s – Terry Meresman in the early 70’s