ST. GEORGE — Howling winds may have ripped off the roof of the Brian Head Overlook Tower, but a significant restoration project is underway.
Maria Twitchell, executive director of the Visit Cedar City Brian Head Tourism Bureau, told St. George News that Brian Head Overlook Tower is one of the most visited sites in Iron County.
“We are so excited to provide funding to restore the roof on the historic Brian Head Overlook structure. As our highest point, it’s a symbol that is visible to locals and visitors alike,” Twitchell said. “We are lucky to have partners like the Forest Service and the Forever Project step in to support us as well. With four seasons of recreation, we hope every visitor can see the tower once it’s restored, either on a hike or when they hit the slopes.”
According to a U.S. Forest Service webpage, the structure and primitive road to it were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps Camp F-16, stationed at Duck Creek in 1934-35. In the 1990s, Sierra Club volunteers also renovated the building extensively.
It stands guard, overseeing the sweeping landscape of Southern Utah from Iron County.
At 11,000 feet in elevation, the structure has served as a recreational overlook and an occasional fire lookout. The Brian Head Overlook Tower features panoramic views across state lines, from Utah’s wilderness, including the Markagunt Plateau, to Arizona’s Mount Trumbull and Navajo Mountain and Nevada’s Wheeler and Highland peaks.
In November 2022, fierce 80 mph winds razed the structure’s roof during a snowstorm. The area’s harsh elements highlight the urgent need to conserve and restore this part of history.
A joint effort between the U.S. Forest Service, the Zion National Park Forever Project and the Visit Cedar City/Brian Head tourism office is underway to restore the historic site.
“This partnership with Iron County and Zion Forever to restore the roof on the historic Brian Head Overlook shows the importance of collaboration in a shared stewardship environment,” Dixie National Forest Forest Supervisor Kevin Wright said in an email to St. George News. “This structure has a deep history in our community.”
The group is raising donations to match toward restoration. The U.S. Forest Service has donated $85,000 and Iron County has donated $35,000. The Zion National Park Forever Project is working on raising an additional $50,000 to complete the work.
According to the Zion National Park Forever Project’s website, monetary contributions will allow the site to be professionally restored by trained archivists and skilled workers. The Brian Head Overlook Tower needs to stabilize its structure while retaining its historic characteristics.
The tower is also known in Southern Utah as “Brian Head Lookout,” “Brian Head Overlook,” “Peak House,” or “Brian Head Peak Observation.” The remnants of it straddle the highest point of the Cedar City Ranger District in the Dixie National Forest.
Click here to support this project and Zion National Park Forever Project’s programs throughout Southern Utah.
Photo Gallery
Brian Head Peak Overlook area in the Dixie National Forest, Cedar Breaks, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Zion National Park Forever Project, St. George News
The remains of the Brian Head Peak Overlook area in the Dixie National Forest, Cedar Breaks, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Zion National Park Forever Project, St. George News
Brian Head Peak Overlook area in the Dixie National Forest, Cedar Breaks, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Zion National Park Forever Project, St. George New
Brian Head Peak Overlook area in the Dixie National Forest, Cedar Breaks, Utah, date not specified | Photo courtesy of Zion National Park Forever Project, St. George New
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