MISSOURI LOOKOUTS
SINKING CREEK
Carter County
25N-2W-17
25N-2W-17
May 17, 1934: "Sinking Creek Camp, eight miles south of Fremont, is making good headway on improvement work in the Forest Unit. The roads which are not fully completed by the CWA workers, have been taken over by the camp and the work is being pushed rapidly. The steel work for one of the look-out towers is about half completed, while the foundations for the second tower are practically completed, and the work work erecting the steel will be begun as soon as the first tower is finished, both towers are 100 feet high.
Quarters for the look-out will be provided at each tower, and will be built this summer. Towers and telephone lines in the extension have been planned for but as not yet approved." (The Current Local)
Quarters for the look-out will be provided at each tower, and will be built this summer. Towers and telephone lines in the extension have been planned for but as not yet approved." (The Current Local)
February 16, 1950: "Strayed -- Sow and 3 shotes, marked with swallow fork in each ear. Owner please call for them at Sinking Creek lookout tower and pay feed bill. Sam White, Fremont. 383." (The Current Local)
November 5, 1970: "A heliport has been constructed near Sinking Creek Lookout Tower where the helicopter is based. This is a central location where the helicopter can be dispatched to fires on the Winona, Doniphan, or Van Buren Ranger Districts. The helicopter can be dispatched to a fire with two fire fighters or it can go with a large bucket designed for dropping water on the fire. It is capable of dipping water from wildlife ponds, stock ponds, or from the river where water depth is two or more feet deep." (Van Buren Current Local)
November 12, 1970: "A helicopter, pilot and helitact crew located at the Sinking Creek Tower Heliport are being used for the first time in the Doniphan, Winiona and Van Buren areas to fight forest fires.
Travel time to fires on the three districts will be cut in half by the strategically located craft which is speedy enough to fling water on a raging fire anywhere within the three-districted Fristoe Unit every three to four minutes." (The Current Local)
October 2008: The CCC constructed lookout and associated structures underwent a refurbishing under the Passport in Time program.
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1962 (VBM)
STATION IS THE CENTER OF THE TOP OF THE CLARK NATIONAL FOREST
LOOKOUT TOWER LOCATED ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTH OF FREMONT AND ABOUT
14 MILES SOUTHEAST OF WINONA. IT IS IN THE NW 1/4 OF SEC. 17,
T 25 N, R 2 W. IT IS A FOUR-LEGGED STEEL STRUCTURE WITH AN
ENCLOSED OBSERVATION ROOM AT THE TOP AND THE OVER-ALL HEIGHT
IS ABOUT 90 FEET.
TO REACH FROM THE JUNCTION OF U.S. HIGHWAY 60 AND CARTER
COUNTY STATE ROAD J AT THE SOUTHEAST EDGE OF FREMONT, GO SOUTH
ON ROAD J FOR 9.0 MILES TO A GRAVELED ROAD RIGHT. TURN RIGHT
AND GO WEST ON FOREST SERVICE ROAD 3146 FOR 1.0 MILE TO A HOUSE
ON THE RIGHT AND THE LOOKOUT TOWER ON THE LEFT.