The area now known as Fire Mountain Scout Reservation
was settled and farmed by William Gaches from La Connor
in the early 1900's. He built the farmhouse and farmed
300 acres, planting the orchard as well as hay in the
field which is now Lake Challenge.
In the early 50's the land was sold to Lloyd Nelson
who raised beef cattle on the property. In 1971, the
300 acres owned by the Nelson's, as well as an additional
140 acres of the neighboring Walking M Ranch, were purchased
by the Evergreen Area Council. The 440 acres were named
Fire Mountain Scout Reservation by Council Scouter Bob
Overstreet who, as a young man, had fought one of several
fires on Cultus Mountain.
Hundreds of volunteers as well as the Army Reserve,
Navy Seabees, and Marine Reserves worked frantically
to turn the hay fields into the beautiful 37 acre Lake
Challenge, build the Dining hall, Campfire Bowl and
campsites so Fire Mountain would become a reality for
hundreds of Snohomish County Scouts.
Over the years generous donors have financed 3 additions
to the Dining Hall, the building of Salishan Lodge,
and many other projects. In 1988 the Council Executive
Board made a commitment to undertake a capital campaign
to make Fire Mountain into a premier camping and training
facility.
1988 saw the completion of a new commissary and separate
meeting room addition to the Dining Hall, construction
of a new bunkhouse with a lounge for the summer camp
staff, the completion of two new troop campsites and,
finally, the acquisition of 225 additional acres, bringing
the total reservation to 665 acres.
From 1990 onwards the expansion has continued with
new plumbing and toilet facilities in each campsite
and the opening of Cub Adventure Land to host resident
camping programs for Cubs and Webelos Scouts. It featured
a tipi campsite, a complete BB gun/Archery range complex,
aquatics area and, its focal point, the Wild West style
Fort Boeing. Fire Mountain has continued to grow and
has expanded its services and program support to thousands
of Scouts and adult leaders each year. Such is the demand
that the whole camp is used for Scout camp with the
Cub and Webelos camping run in other weeks.
For more historical information about Fire Mountain,
please visit the website of the Fire Mountain Staff
Alumni Assocation www.firemtn.org/history.
