MENDOCINO COUNTY
TWO ROCK
California Department of Forestry
August 19, 1932: "A fire lookout station is being built on Two Rock, eight miles west of Willets. This is a very commanding site and most of the Mendocino coast section can be viewed from this point. It is only a short distance from the Fairbanks highway and is on the ranch of D.T. Bennitt, who has donated the site to the forestry department. The telephone line is now being extended to the lookout building." (Ukiah Dispatch Democrat)
June 28, 1935: "James Frazier will be lookout at Two Rock which is located on the Bennitt ranch about half way between Willits and Fort Bragg, near the highway connecting these cities." (Ukiah Dispatch-Democrat)
June 29, 1938: "Bert Gibson took his departure for a ranger station near Willets, where he will be employed during the summer months." (Ukiah Republican Press)
August 3, 1938: "During the hot spell last week Bert Gibson, of Old Hopland, fire lookout at the State Department of Forestry's Two Rock Lookout Station on Attorney D.T. Bennitt's ranch west of Willets, killed four rattlesnakes in three days. Mr. Gibson also killed a good-sized rattler a few days previous in the rocks beneath the station." (Ukiah Republican Press)
August 24, 1938: "Royden Hiatt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Hiatt, had the misfortune to shoot himself through the foot, recently, with a small rifle, while staying at Two Rock Lookout station with Bert Gibson. The lad was taken to Ukiah for medical attention and left in the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. T.L. Hiatt." (Ukiah Republican Press)
June 21, 1939: "Bert Gibson is home from Two Rock Lookout Station, recuperating at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. H.H. Gibson, from an attack of measles." (Ukiah Republican Press)
1956: The fire lookout also did double duty as observer for the Ground Observer Corps Skywatch program."
September 13, 1956: "Mrs. Russel Horn, a watcher on the Two Rock fire look-out in Mendocino County, was awakened by a meteor flying past the lookout a few minutes before midnight Friday night, Sept, 7.
Mrs. Horn was asleep in the look-out, which is between 2,500 to 3,000 feet high. Just before midnight, she was awakened by a very bright light. Startled, she got up in time to see the meteor passing the window, and heard a hissing sound. She ran out onto the catwalk around the station, and saw the meteor heading west and finally disappearing. Since Mrs. Horn can sometimes see the ocean on clear days, she decided that it must have gone into the ocean.
The sides of the look-out all are made of glass, and there is nothing covering the top. Mrs. Horn, who said that it seemed like a dream, didn't realize the danger until the meteor was past." (Cloverdale Reveille)
Mrs. Horn was asleep in the look-out, which is between 2,500 to 3,000 feet high. Just before midnight, she was awakened by a very bright light. Startled, she got up in time to see the meteor passing the window, and heard a hissing sound. She ran out onto the catwalk around the station, and saw the meteor heading west and finally disappearing. Since Mrs. Horn can sometimes see the ocean on clear days, she decided that it must have gone into the ocean.
The sides of the look-out all are made of glass, and there is nothing covering the top. Mrs. Horn, who said that it seemed like a dream, didn't realize the danger until the meteor was past." (Cloverdale Reveille)
September 25, 1989: "Two Rock Lookout recently reopened, with the help of volunteers from the Willits area.
Funding from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection had been lost for the lookout, and Chief Ray Hebrard had expected that it would not be staffed this year.
Community members responded, however, and it now appears that the lookout will be fully operational for the remaining fire season.
Two Rock is among the volunteer lookouts which are all members of the CDF's Volunteer-In-Prevention Program (VIP). Volunteers assist CDF with numerous fire prevention duties. People interested in volunteering can contact...." (Ukiah Daily Journal)
1990: The Lookout will not be staffed this fire season due to budget cuts.
