A long-shuttered fire lookout in the Tahoe National Forest could become one of the hottest lodgings in the area if enough public interest — and material help — can spark a restoration project.

By design, all fire lookouts share the same feature: A 360-degree forest view that stretches for miles. And now that the smoke watchers who staffed the aeries are aided by video cameras and surveillance flights, hundreds of the structures are finding new lives as forest hideaways for rent through the U.S. Forest Service.

The service is looking at turning the circa-1923 Grouse Ridge Fire Lookout Tower near Washington into one of these rental facilities. A preliminary planning meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Tahoe National Forest headquarters in Nevada City.

“The lookout is no longer being used to spot wildfires, but it is a favorite among recreationists and has tremendous potential as a rental facility,” said Yuba River District Ranger Jean Masquelier. “This is the oldest lookout on the forest.”

“I don't think it has been in operation for at least 30 years,” said Tahoe National Forest spokeswoman Ann Westling.

About 10 or 12 old lookout sites are sprinkled through the forest region, some of which were not much more than a cement pad, Westling said.

“As our communications capacity has improved, with aerial flights, with cell phones and with radios, we don't have to use such an extensive set of lookouts,” Westling said. “We have three that are staffed — Saddleback, which is north of Downieville; Babbitt, which is on the very northeastern side of the forest; and Duncan, on the south side of the forest.”

The three lookouts remain very effective in fire prevention, Westling said, pointing to a recent quarter-acre blaze sparked by an abandoned campfire east of Foresthill that was first picked up by a ranger staffing the lookout tower.

The Grouse Ridge Lookout, located off Bowman Lake Road, has suffered quite a bit of damage over the years, but the structure remains intact.

“When we close a lookout, we try to protect the glass and all the internal structures,” Westling said. “All lookouts that aren't used are boarded up.”

The Forest Service has not yet conducted an evaluation of the site and does not know the estimated cost to restore the lookout, Westling said.

“We will need to do fairly extensive repairs to make it habitable again, and this is where we need the public's help,” Masquelier said. “We have absolutely no funding for this project, but hope that with some grants and lots of volunteer help, we can recreate a lookout opportunity for the public.”

The first meeting will include an overview of the site, the renovation needs and information about the lookout rental process. One of the goals of the renovation is to maintain the historic nature of the facility, while still providing some amenities.

“We will be looking for ideas, volunteers and potential partners at this first meeting and would welcome anyone or representative from any group that might want to be involved,” Masquelier said.

“We're going to need funding; we're going to need master carpenters; we're going to need just general maintenance-type people, people who can paint and clean and do all the general restoration work,” Westling added.

Grouse Ridge will be the third lookout on the Tahoe National Forest to undergo restoration.

The first two include Calpine Lookout, which has been available for rent for five years, and Sardine Lookout, which is expected to be available next year. The facilities are rented through the National Reservation System for approximately $45 per night.

“Calpine has been very successful,” Westling said. “It's rented every weekend of the year, year-round; and during the nicer months, it's rented consistently spring through fall.”

And, Westling noted, the $45 a night cost goes to fund upkeep of the facility.

For more information on the Grouse Ridge restoration project, call Masquelier at (530) 288-3231 or (530) 478-6853.

To contact Staff Writer Liz Kellar, e-mail lkellar@theunion.com or call (530) 477-4229.