Vermont Renovates Historic Fire Lookout Towers

The state is upgrading towers on Spruce and Elmore Mountains to improve safety for hikers.

Updated on Oct. 15, 2026 in Home Renovation

Vermont Renovates Historic Fire Lookout Towers

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The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation is launching significant safety renovations for fire towers on Spruce Mountain and Elmore Mountain. The project involves replacing aging wooden stairs with modern metal steps and installing railings to secure the structures for public access.

Why it matters

These upgrades aim to preserve a piece of Vermont's history while ensuring the safety of hikers who visit these iconic summits. By regrounding the towers, the state is also protecting the structures from potential lightning damage.

The renovation project costs approximately $250,000 per tower and involves helicopter transport of 3,000 pounds of construction materials to each summit. Sixteen fire towers currently remain in Vermont out of 38 constructed since 1911.

The players

Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation

This state agency is responsible for the management and preservation of Vermont's public lands and forest infrastructure.

The details

Crews are working to modernize the towers, which have not been staffed for lookouts since 1974. The labor-intensive process requires helicopters to haul thousands of pounds of material to the remote mountain sites.

1939: The Elmore Mountain fire tower was originally constructed.
1943: The Spruce Mountain steel fire tower was relocated to its current site.
1974: The state officially ceased staffing all fire lookout towers.
October 2026: The towers are expected to remain closed for the duration of the project.

Culture Shift

The restoration of these towers reflects a broader societal shift toward preserving industrial-era infrastructure for recreational use rather than its original functional purpose. This trend highlights the growing value placed on historical landmarks within modern hiking and outdoor tourism culture.

Hikers planning trips to Spruce and Elmore Mountains should expect the towers to remain closed through at least October 2026 for safety reasons. Visitors should avoid these specific summit areas while heavy construction materials are being transported by helicopter.

The takeaway

Maintaining historic sites like these fire towers requires significant investment and specialized logistics to ensure they remain safe for future generations. Hikers should always check the status of park infrastructure before setting out on trails to ensure they comply with ongoing safety closures.