Okemo Mountain Resort

10 Places to Fall in Love With Fall

"At the top of the 3,344-foot Okemo Mountain outside of Ludlow, Vermont sits a 60-foot tall fire tower, open to anyone who dares to climb its steep steps for a panoramic view of the surrounding Green Mountains. In the wintertime, one can see at least seven surrounding ski areas from atop the tower. The summer viewing brings a sea of green. And of course, the fall foliage is a wonder to behold in all directions. In 1910, Vermont granted authority to the State Forester to employ watchmen, positioned on peaks throughout the state, to spot for fires. A total of 38 fire towers were eventually built, but as air technology supplanted the need for watchmen, many fell into disuse and were dismantled or rotted away. As of 2021, 16 towers remained in Vermont. The original fire tower on Okemo Mountain was built in 1923. It was built of wood and stood 30 feet tall. In 1934, a new steel tower was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, double the height of the original tower at 60 feet. In 2010, a refurbishment of the stairs was completed, making them much safer with chain-link siding to the top. The Okemo fire tower was in use until 1970 and was put on the National Historic Lookout Register in 1998." - ATLAS_OBSCURA