Dee Wright Observatory, Stone observation point in McKenzie Pass, Oregon.
The Dee Wright Observatory rises from a lava field at 5,325 feet elevation, constructed entirely from local volcanic rock in the Cascade Mountains.
The Civilian Conservation Corps workers from Camp Belknap built this structure during the Great Depression, completing the project in 1935.
The observatory features a bronze peak finder on its roof that helps visitors identify geological formations and mountain peaks in the surrounding landscape.
The McKenzie Pass location remains closed to vehicles from November through July due to heavy snow accumulation and narrow road conditions.
Specially designed viewing windows within the stone structure create lava tube-like openings that frame specific mountain peaks in the distance.
Location: Oregon
Inception: 1935
GPS coordinates: 44.26056,-121.80122
Latest update: March 9, 2025 12:22
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