Colorado Lookouts

Academy Lookout

U.S. Air Force Academy

Elevation: ~7600?

Status: Removed

Year Built: 1957?

Year Removed: ~1980

Structure Type: Local design.

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Staffed for only a few years, the Academy tower was partway up the backdrop mountain close to the Pike National Forest boundary. It was built after a wildfire escaped from the construction site of the Academy in about Sept. 1957. The fire burned down the draw from the Air Force Academy Chapel all the way to I-25, the route of the main access road. It killed many ponderosa pines which had been deemed essential to a parkway-like entrance to the Academy campus. The damage is still visible today in the lack of larger trees. (Information courtesy of Keith Argow)

Visit the Former Fire Lookout Site Register entry for Deadman Lookout.