{"id":225,"date":"2017-11-12T00:15:47","date_gmt":"2017-11-12T00:15:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/?p=225"},"modified":"2025-08-26T02:14:19","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T02:14:19","slug":"sand-dunes-state-forest-and-lake-ann-campground","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/2017\/11\/12\/sand-dunes-state-forest-and-lake-ann-campground\/","title":{"rendered":"Sand Dunes State Forest and Lake Ann Campground"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sand Dunes State Forest and Lake Ann Campground just 5 miles north of Big Lake. I remember climbing up the ladder to the old fire lookout tower and I think I was actually in it but memory is a tricky thing. Does anyone else remember being able to go into it?<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Jon Baldwin<\/a><\/span> I am aware of some ladder climbing of that tower, by my classmates in the early 1980s, the trap door to get inside the structure on top, was padlocked.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Bob Olson<\/a><\/span> I WOULDN’T GO UP THERE , the thing was rotten and rusty when we were kids in the early 60’s. Mike Brown and I climbed up there and damn near fell through the floor and that ladder was really crusty and rusty<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Jana HarrerGroup Admin<\/u><\/i><\/a><\/span> It’s locked up tight at the bottom of the ladder now. So kids, don’t try this. However, I think it’s been repaired since the 60’s it’s looking good now.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Bob Olson<\/a><\/span> surprised its still standing, what is to burn out there a housing development?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Eric Bondhus<\/a><\/span> I know we climbed up and around the 1980 era but it was like Jon said paddle locked at the bottom.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Kathy Arneson<\/a><\/span> My Grandfather was the forester in that tower<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Jana HarrerGroup Admin<\/u><\/i><\/a><\/span> any pictures of him? in it? in uniform?<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
Kathy Arneson<\/a><\/span> Jana Harrer<\/a> I can ask my cousin if she has any because I don’t<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

\"Image<\/p>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
Dori Skoog Holland<\/a><\/span> My Great Uncle Arnie Hermanson was one also. (I believe)<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Peggy Johnson<\/a><\/span> We climbed it many times as kids, too. Looks much nicer now.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Justin A. Kudla<\/a><\/span> I climbed it after the tornado that hit last March. Glass was missing, they have a lock on it now, and one of the brackets are broke from the tornado. I\u2019m a lil dare devil, I would of gone in it if it weren\u2019t locked; however, I wouldn\u2019t recommend anyone to climb it.<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Justin A. Kudla<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\"Image<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Cindy Bialka Walker<\/a><\/span> My whole family did we lived just a mile or two from it<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Jana Harrer<\/a><\/span> There’s a whole association dedicated to saving and preserving historic fire lookout towers. Who knew? http:\/\/www.ffla.org\/index.html<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"\"<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
Forest Fire Lookout Association<\/a><\/div>\n
Not a member and want to enjoy 4 to 5 issues of Lookout Network a year? Consider Joining FFLA.\u2026<\/div>\n
\n
\n
FIRELOOKOUT.IPAGE.COM<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Michael Ronayne<\/a><\/span> i climbed the tower in 66 or 67 and found a padlock on the hatch in the floor<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Lee Fischer<\/a><\/span> Hi Jana.. My sister and I went there and I did climb the Tower and Looked around..We we\u2019re out with the snow mobiles….<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sand Dunes State Forest and Lake Ann Campground just 5 miles north of Big Lake. I remember climbing up the ladder to the old fire lookout tower and I think I was actually in it but memory is a tricky thing. Does anyone else remember being able to go into it? Jon Baldwin I am […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":228,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-225","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-surrounding"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=225"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":227,"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/225\/revisions\/227"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/228"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=225"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=225"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biglakemnhistory.org\/option1\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=225"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}