Near Hamley Run in Athens County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Snake Ridge Lookout Tower
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 6, 2009
1. Snake Ridge Lookout Tower Marker
Reconstructed on this site, this lookout tower once stood off S.R. 278 southwest of Nelsonville in Athens County. Known as the Snake Ridge Lookout Tower this tower was originally built in 1939.
Many of the lookout towers were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps. Construction included a 75-100 foot steel tower with either wooden steps or a steel ladder, a log guard station with outhouse and garage to provide housing for the lookout, and telephone lines to the tower. The towers were actively used until the 1970s.
Towers were manned during spring and fall when fires were most prevalent. Of the original eight towers on the Forest, only the Shawnee Lookout Tower near New Straitsville remains at its original location. Shawnee, Snake Ridge, and Iron Point Towers once stood on the Athens Ranger District and Kimble, Long Hollow, New Castle, Pilot Knob, and Telegraph Towers were on the Ironton Ranger District.
The New Castle Lookout was the first on the Forest and consisted of a platform built on the top of a tree trunk until it was replaced by a metal structure.
This sign was erected to commemorate the Centennial of the
this page online
Erected 2005 by USDA Forest Service and Eastern National Forest Interpretive Association.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Communications • Disasters • Horticulture & Forestry. In addition, it is included in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), and the Time Capsules series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.
Location. 39° 24.173′ N, 82° 9.993′ W. Marker is near Hamley Run, Ohio, in Athens County. It is on U.S. 33, on the right when traveling west. Marker and tower are on the grounds of the Wayne National Forest Headquarters. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 13700 US Highway 33, Nelsonville OH 45764, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Hocking Hills. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Ohio River Valley, in Appalachia, and specifically in Northern Appalachia. Globally, it is
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 6, 2009
2. Snake Ridge Lookout Tower and Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Dover Township Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.6 miles away); Coal Mining in Chauncey (approx. 2 miles away); Chauncey Civil War Patriots (approx. 2 miles away); The Clean Energy Generated By Our Solar Panels Will Save Both Money & The Planet (approx. 2 miles away); Home of Joe Burrow (approx. 2.2 miles away); Wolfe Plains Adena Mound Group (approx. 2.3 miles away); Hartman (George Connett Mounds) Mound (approx. 2.3 miles away); Athens County Infirmary (approx. 2.6 miles away).
Also see . . . Wayne National Forest. (Submitted on March 11, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Additional keywords. New Deal
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 6, 2009
3. Wayne National Forest Headquarters
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 6, 2009
4. Ranger Instruction Photo on Marker
"Ironton District Ranger, Anthony Quinkert instructs school boys on the use of fire tools. Boys were once released from school to help whenever the Forest Service needed firefighters."
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 6, 2009
5. Snake Ridge Lookout Photo on Marker
"Snake Ridge Lookout in 1971 at its original location (above) and a towerman siting on a smoke using a firefinder."
Credits. This page was last revised on January 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on March 11, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2,308 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on March 11, 2010, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
