Chews Ridge Lookout, Fire lookout tower in Los Padres National Forest, California, US.
Chews Ridge Lookout is a fire watch tower located in Los Padres National Forest in California. The structure sits atop a ridge at high elevation and provides sweeping views across the surrounding forest and mountains.
The tower was built in 1924 and underwent major reconstruction following a fire in 1978. A renovation in 1984 gave it its current configuration.
The ridge bears the name of Constantine and Nellie Chew, who established a 315-acre homestead on this land during the late nineteenth century.
Access is via Carmel Valley Road and Forest Route 18S02, with unpaved sections requiring a high-clearance or four-wheel drive vehicle. Plan for a challenging mountain drive with limited services nearby.
During World War II, the structure served the civilian Aircraft Warning Service with observers stationed around the clock. This was part of the West Coast home defense against potential aerial threats.
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