Logging requirements: Please email the names of the two tools of the trade for this tower!
The structure at this location is one of the remaining 13 fire towers in the State of Indiana. The State began building fire outlook towers in 1930. However, there was an immediate problem since the land was never completely topographically mapped. This made it difficult to determine the highest elevation points for placement of the towers. Fortunately, the State was able to overcome this issue and 33 towers were in full operation by 1952.
The Indiana fire towers were designed so that the watchman could see every possible vantage point of the forest to detect wildfires. Although mostly defunct of their original purpose now, some towers are still standing and provide awesome views! And they are feats of engineering that are incredible to look at, challenging to climb, and provide breathtaking views of Indiana's forest lands.
The Ouabache Tower soars over the State Park at just around 100 feet. Repairs were made in the spring of 2018 to restore the tower to like-new condition. Incredibly, the $75,000 renovation cost was completely funded by volunteers in nine months! A climb to the top for the adventurous gives a great view of Ouabache State Park and makes a great selfie stop!
Ouabache State Park is located along the Wabash River near Bluffton. Originally operated as Wells County State Forest and Game Preserve in the early 1930s, the park was once considered the “Greatest Wildlife Laboratory in the United States” for its raising of pheasant, quail, raccoon, and rabbit. Through the efforts of the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) and the WPA (Works Progress Administration), the fire tower was built and the surrounding area was developed for wildlife management, forestry demonstration, and recreation.
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.