December Snow. Photo Courtesy of Don Kirche.  Used by permission.

Friends of the St. Regis Fire Tower Restoration Planning Meeting
Thursday, 3 March 2015
7:00 - 8:30 PM

Friends of the St. Regis Fire Tower: Telephoto view of St. Regis summit and Tower from St. Regis Pond. Photo courtesy of Gordon Keyes. Telephoto view of St. Regis summit and Tower from St. Regis Pond. Photo courtesy of Gordon Keyes.

Come to the VIC on 3 March to learn how you can get involved with the ongoing effort to restore the St. Regis Fire Tower. The Friends of the St. Regis Fire Tower have worked for many years to save the St. Regis Fire Tower. The group has been designated as the lead volunteer group to work with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation on the restoration and long-term stewardship of the facility. If all goes well, the tower could be open to the public as early as the fall of 2015.

The St. Regis Fire Tower, located on the 2,874' summit of the St. Regis Mountain, was built in 1918 after a series of fires in the forests of the Adirondacks. The most damaging fires occurred in 1903 and 1908, consuming nearly a million acres. An observation station was established on the summit of St. Regis in April 1910. In 1918, the New York State Conservation Commission erected a 35' Aermotor LS40 steel tower that still remains there today. The tower was closed in 1990.

St. Regis Tower Cab View on 21 October 2001, looking south. In the center of this photo is Lake Clear Lake with Upper St. Regis Lake to the left. On the horizon are the High Peaks with Whiteface Mountain visible to the left. Photo courtesty of Friends of the St. Regis Fire Tower.
St. Regis Tower Cab View on 21 October 2001, looking south. In the center of this photo is Lake Clear Lake with Upper St. Regis Lake to the left. On the horizon are the High Peaks with Whiteface Mountain visible to the left. Photo courtesy of The Friends of the St. Regis Fire Tower.

The Friends of the St. Regis Fire Tower formed to preserve the tower. The group's mission is to restore the St. Regis Mountain Fire Tower for safe public access, while developing an educational and interpretive program that promotes the historic and cultural values of the St. Regis Mountain Fire Tower, the NYS Fire Tower Network, and the Adirondack Preserve.

The meeting on 3 March will include a presentation of the efforts made to date to restore the tower, a discussion of the project and long-term stewardship of the facility, and information on how to become involved in the project. Free.



Explore the VIC

The Paul Smiths VIC offers a wide variety of programs throughout the year to educate and inform Adirondack Park residents and visitors about the natural wonders of the Adirondack Mountains. You can help support these programs by joining the Friends of the VIC. More information on Friends of the VIC memberships

Explore the Trails

The VIC trails are free and open to the public, from dawn to dusk, spring through fall. In winter, the trails are open to cross-country skiers and snowshoers for a fee. Day or season passes may be purchased.