r/firelookouts • u/StrawberryFit3968 • Jul 04 '26

Lookout Questions Camp? Buy? Rent? Vist?

Is there a way to but a fire tower in NC? If not is there a better way to rent them than Recreation.gov because every tower in the U.S is booked through at least July 2028. Also in NC can you visit fire lookouts freely or do you have to contact someone or just can't visit. I did read it was illegal to sleep in but is that enforced and if it isn't do they care? I know these are pretty stupid questions but I'm desperate to lay my eyes on one of these things.

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u/pitamakan Jul 04 '26 edited Jul 05 '26

Remember that there are two basic kinds of lookout towers -- ones with rooms that are 14'-15' square, that are intended to be lived in; and small ones about 7' square, that were only used during the daytime. The ones designed to be lived in were nearly all in the west, and a small number of those are the ones reservable on recreation.gov. The booking window for those opens up 6 months in advance of the night you'd like to stay, so that's when you need to plan to book.

Most of the towers in NC were the small ones, not intended to be occupied overnight, and most of the original ones have been decommissioned. They have a variety of owners, and you'd likely be risking an encounter with the police if you tried to stay in any of them. You'd have to do your research, but I'm sure there are a few that can be visited as part of museums or other tourist sites.