USFS
1943
Administering the National Forests of Colorado: An Assessment of the Architectural and Cultural Significance of Historical Administrative Properties
Eightmile Mesa Lookout, June 1994
San Juan National Forest
Elevation: 8776
Status: Inactive
Year Built: 1941 , 1963
Structure Type: 20ft CL100, 30ft Steel, replaced 14x14 wood cab
Eightmile Mesa is off FR-651 , the road is rough but can be carefully driven in a passenger car. There is a standing 30' steel tower built in 1963 and footings of the 1941 tower near the BM. It is closed to the public and used only as needed.
Mark Roper
2002
A National Geodetic Survey Datasheet decribes the original wooden tower: HL0523 ****************************************************************** HL0523 DESIGNATION - EIGHT MILE HL0523 PID - HL0523 HL0523 STATE/COUNTY- CO/ARCHULETA HL0523 USGS QUAD - SERVICEBERRY MOUNTAIN (1984) HL0523 HL0523 STATION RECOVERY (1958) HL0523 HL0523'RECOVERY NOTE BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1958 (OSR) HL0523'LOCATED ABOUT 7 MILES SOUTH OF PAGOSA SPRINGS, ON THE NORTH HL0523'RIM OF EIGHTMILE MESA AND DIRECTLY BELOW THE CENTER OF THE HL0523'U.S. FOREST SERVICE EIGHTMILE LOOKOUT TOWER. HL0523' HL0523'THE LOOKOUT TOWER IS A WOOD FRAME, ELEVATED, LOOKOUT CABIN HL0523'WHICH IS APPROXIMATELY 15 FEET SQUARE AND SUPPORTED BY A HL0523'FOUR-LEGGED LOG STRUCTURE. OVERALL HEIGHT IS 35 FEET. POINT HL0523'OBSERVED WAS THE APEX.