VIRGINIA GORDON
Communication Coordinator
Adventure awaits you at Scioto Grove Metro Park, if you’re bold enough to climb the 111 rather steep steps to the top of the Fire Tower. Metro Parks served up a slice of Ohio history on Tuesday, August 15, 2023, as the Keystone Forest Lookout Tower made its public bow in its new location. By a happy stroke of coincidence, the 82-foot-high structure was transplanted to central Ohio 82 years after it was erected as a US Forest Service Fire Tower. The Keystone Fire Tower was set up in Jackson County, Ohio in 1942, to help protect southern Ohio forests from wild fires.
In its new location, the Fire Tower serves a different purpose, one of bravado, adventure and elevated sight-seeing. A stunning view of the City of Columbus, about 7 miles away, is available from the top of the tower, as well as the surrounding park on the Scioto River. The tower rises 82 feet from ground to the floor of the lookout, and the steep but perfectly secure steps are not for the faint of heart. But the climb is exhilarating and the resulting views are spectacular by any measure. The height of 82 feet is to the floor of the cab, or house, that sits atop the steel tower.
This fire tower was built by the Aermotor Windmill Company, which became the most successful developer of metal windmills in the American Midwest. Until the 1870s, nearly all windmills had been constructed entirely of wood. The same was true of the fire towers used to look out for the start of forest fires. The US Forest Service installed fire towers across America and from the early 1920s contracted with Aermotor to develop fire towers constructed mainly of galvanized steel. The zinc coating from the hot dip galvanizing process prevents rust of the steel. The company, based in Chicago, developed three types of fire towers; one with an outside ladder to the top, another with an inside ladder to the top, and the most expensive type, with an inside metal staircase. The Keystone Fire Tower, the one now installed at Scioto Grove Metro Park, is of this latter type. The staircase made these towers easier and safer to climb than the other types using inside or outside ladders. The tower weighed 12,000 pounds. Back in 1945, this model of tower was sold by Aermotor for $970.
Fire towers were very successful in helping to detect and control forest fires before they could spread. Over time, many such towers were decommissioned, their purpose supplanted first by helicopters, and latterly by drones. The land on which the Keystone Fire Tower had been erected came into private ownership, and Justin Taylor, on behalf of the entire Taylor family, donated the fire tower to Metro Parks.
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts, is what the Ancients had to say. This free gift actually cost Metro Parks about $140,000 to dismantle it in Jackson Country, transport it in three sections about 75 miles to its new location, galvanize it again and reassemble it onsite, while adding safety fencing and a completely rebuilt lookout structure at the top. But it was certainly worth it!
The Fire Tower adds another compelling reason to visit the 620-acre park on the Scioto River, south of Columbus. The park also features a 3D as well as a conventional archery course, a disc golf course, a rope bridge and stone steps across Grant Run, a tributary of the Scioto River, access to the river for kayaking and canoeing, as well as 7 miles of great trails, a fishing pond, a drone flying field, a sledding hill, two picnic areas, and a beautiful reservable lodge. The park also allows overnight backpacking via reservation only. Check the Scioto Grove page on the Metro Parks website: Scioto Grove web page
