Cabin History: Frog Meadow Guard Station was constructed between 1933 and 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, (CCC) to provide a residence for Forest Service fire patrolmen stationed in that area. In the early 1980's, the Forest Service no longer needed the use of the cabin, and it was closed until just recently. The cabin is 900 square feet, single story and consists of 1 bedroom with a closet, 1 bathroom, a living room and a kitchen with a service porch. The original cabinets, walls and bath fixtures remain, although the floor was covered with new vinyl tile recently. The exterior is constructed of redwood board over 1 X 8 diagonal sheeting nailed to a standard wooden frame.
Recreation Use: There is no electricity at Frog Meadow Guard Station. Light is provided by "daylight", or you will need to provide your own battery-powered flashlights or propane lanterns. Overnight use (up to 14 days) of Frog Meadow Guard Station and its facilities is available for individuals, families and groups up to 10. The cabin is equipped with propane hot water heater, cook stove, refrigerator, and panel-type heater. There are table and chairs in the kitchen, two (double bed size) futon couch's, fold-away 6 foot table and four extra chairs for dining in the living room, and in the bedroom, two double beds, and twin roll-away, all with mattresses. There are also other items of equipment and/or supplies, such as pots, pans, utensils, dishes and silverware, a bucket and shovel for fire prevention for the outdoor fire ring, a rake and ax, and cleansers/brooms/mops. Because of vandalism problems, the presence of these items is not guaranteed. There is an outdoor fire ring/barbecue, and picnic table. The cabin will provide cozy sleeping area for 9 adults, with plenty of room for tents or cots outside. Plans are in the works for several hitching racks and corrals for containment of stock. NO SMOKING ALLOWED INSIDE FACILITIES.
Enjoying Your Stay: Plan on bringing sleeping bags or bedding and pillows, bath towels and toiletries. No food or condiments, (salt, pepper, etc.) are provided, so be sure to bring ALL food items you will need. Suggested additional items would be toilet paper, paper towels, tinfoil, baggies, trash bags, and dish clothes or towels. A flashlight for each person would be useful, along with a camera and lots of insect repellant. The shade and lush vegetation are the preferred summer home of insects, also!
Your Responsibilities: Frog Meadow Guard Station is operated on a "Pack it in, Pack it out" basis. This means that you will take back with you all food, trash, garbage, cans, bottles, etc. that you bring, so be sure to bring trash bags and containers to transport such. A trash bag placed inside your empty ice chest makes a handy place to carry your garbage. We also ask that when you leave no water be left running, and the cabin is left "clean as a whistle", just like you found it or better. We do not have a cleaning service and we prefer not to charge a cleaning deposit, so please leave it clean for the next occupants. Cleaning tools and supplies are provided for your convenience.
Reservations: Reservations for the cabin should be made through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS) 1-877-444-6777 or www.reserveUSA.com.
Getting There: Frog Meadow Guard Station is located 2 hours NE of Bakersfield, or 2 hours SE of Porterville, taking Hwy 65 either from Bakersfield or Porterville to Hwy 155, and travel EAST, and can also be reached just 1 hour NW from Lake Isabella. Please contact the Western Divide District office for more complete directions.
Things To Do: The cabin is situated on the edge of a beautiful meadow which is sometimes visited by sleek well-fed cattle or deer grazing in the early morning and evening hours. The air is so clear here that binoculars and telescopes are a must, especially for star gazing at night. Just a short distance away is Tobias Lookout, a operational fire lookout that is staffed with a Forest Service Employee for the summer months. Our lookout searches for "smokes" or fires in the areas of Kern Drainage, Sugarloaf, Panorama, Poso, and Glenville. You are welcome to visit the Lookout during open days/hours (Closed Wednesday and Thursday). In the event of a fire or other emergency, the Lookout will be closed to the public.
|
