WEST VIRGINIA LOOKOUTS
IVY KNOB
Raleigh/Wyoming Counties
West Virginia Division of Forestry
West Virginia Division of Forestry
October 10, 1926: "The Ivy Knob station is connected on a thirty-mile line to Montcoal where toll connection is available through the Charleston central office." (Charleston Gazette)
September 22, 1935: "Ivy Knob, This lookout summit is situated in Marsh Fork district, and although slightly higher than Huff's Knob, is not so easily reached. At the present stage of road construction, a mountain climb of several miles confronts him who would see it. But those who have ascended to its crest, where the government maintains a forest lookout tower, are enthusiastic in their laudation of its scenic compass." (The Raleigh Register)
August 10, 1960: Story with a photo: "Displaying the two rattlesnakes he killed Wednesday is Kent Lilly, Camp Creek.
Lilly, a state conservation commission employe, killed one of the snakes on his way to the Ivy Knob Fire Tower, on the Raleigh - Wyoming County line near Kopperstan, and the other on his way back.
The one on the left is 50 inches long and two and one-half inches in diameter. The other is 45 inches long. An unusual thing about the smaller snake is it had four fangs instead of two. The larger snake has five rattlers and the other has nine.
Lilly said he had killed several rattlesnakes in that area, and plans to look for the mates of these. Lilly said several bears had been seen in the area as well as wildcats. He is helping to build a road to the site of a new cabin for the tower under the State Temporary Economy Program, and was assisting at the fire tower while the regular observer was in the hospital." (The Raleigh Register)
September 18, 1960: A concrete block cabin, 20 by 22 feet, constructed to replace the small frame shed used for living quarters. (Post Herald and Register)
DESIGNATION - IVY KNOB LOOKOUT TOWER 1952
PID - GX3373
STATE/COUNTY- WV/WYOMING
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - ARNETT (1989)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1952 (LFW)
THE POINT OBSERVED UPON WAS THE CENTER OF THE BASE OF THE LOOKOUT
TOWER. IT IS LOCATED ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF NOAMA AND ON THE
SUMMIT OF IVY KNOB, ONE OF THE PEAKS OF THE CHERRY POND RANGE AND
NEAR THE CORNER OF BOONE AND WYOMING COUNTIES AT THE HEAD
WATERS OF PEACH CREEK. THE TOWER IS ON PROPERTY LEASED BY THE U.S.
FOREST SERVICE.
THE TOWER IS A STEEL STRUCTURE WITH FOUR LEGS AND APPROXIMATELY 65
FEET HIGH. IT HAS THE REGULATION GLASS ENCLOSED OBSERVATION CAB
ON THE TOP WITH AN INSIDE STAIRWAY LEADING TO SAME. THE STRUCTURE IS
PAINTED GREY IN ITS ENTIRETY.
A TRAVERSE CONNECTION WAS MADE TO TRIANGULATION STATION IVY
1881-1935, THE DISTANCE BEING 4.840 METERS.
STATION IVY IS REACHED FROM THE JUNCTION OF STATE HWYS 10 AND 79, AT
THE SOUTHEAST EDGE OF OCEANA. GO NORTHEAST ON HIGHWAY 79 FOR
8.8 MILES TOWARD KOPPERSTON, TO A POINT WHERE THE HIGHWAY MAKES A
HORSESHOE TURN AND A GRAVELED ROAD LEADING TO THE RIGHT. TURN
RIGHT AND GO UPHILL ON A GRAVELED AND BLADED ROAD FOR ABOUT 2-1/4
MILES TO THE SOUTH END OF THE RIDGE, IVY KNOB LOOKOUT TOWER AND
STATION IVY.
A JEEP WILL BE REQUIRED TO DRIVE THE LAST 2-1/4 MILES TO THE STATION.