Earlier this year, the Perry County Board of Commissioners as well as Perry County Heritage Tourism began a discussion with the Missouri Department of Conservation to look at the future of the five-acre Perry Lookout Tower site on the north side of Highway J.
“Perry County is looking into taking it over,” Perry County presiding commissioner Mike Sauer said. “We’re trying to save it as a place people can come visit.”
Liability concerns remain one issue which will need to be worked out, according to Sauer. Options include fencing in the tower portion to restrict access, as well as installing chainlink fence on the upper portion to keep visitors from venturing higher.
At this time, a padlock at the top of the tower prevents climbers from accessing a platform atop the structure, which is 100 feet tall at the cab entrance.
“The Perry County Commission is interested in exploring options available to us to ensure the tower and surrounding grounds can remain a historical and educational roadside attraction for years to come, not just for our community, but for all tourists and enthusiasts,” according to an April 26 letter from the Perry County Commission signed by Mike Sauer, Jay Wengert and Keith Hoehn. “The Highway J Fire tower is a part of our local history and we share the sentiments of Joe Garvey and Lawrence Buchheit that the Perry County Fire Tower is ‘worth saving for historical and educational purposes.”
That April letter was sent April 26 to Matt Boyer, the Southeast Regional Resource Manager for the Missouri Department of Conservation. Another letter was sent to Boyer July 1. Perry County Heritage Tourism and the city of Perryville remains involved in the discussion as well.
Boyer attended a June 27 county commission meeting.
