In past years the butte has also been called Pivot Mountain. Its summit has
been used for spotting fires since 1910 and is one of the first such sites on
the Deschutes National Forest. The small cupola building was constructed in
1921 and served as both observation facility and living quarters for fire
lookouts until 1979.
The 85 foot lookout tower was erected in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation
Corps and the log cabin below the cupola building was completed in 1980.
The well-
used,
two mile long trail has been in existence since 1908. There was, however,
serious interest in making the summit accessible to more than just stout-
hearted
hikers.
Shortly after a vehicle road was completed to the top of Bend's Pilot Butte in
the mid 1920s, a similar concept made its way west in the direction of Black
Butte. Those who believed Central Oregon would become a major tourist center
touted the butte as "one of the most perfect volcanic cones in America."
Proponents envisioned a vehicle road similar to Pilot Butte's, only on a much
larger scale. They assured all who would listen that construction of such a
road would entail no costly engineering work, and would most certainly become a
major tourist draw.
Interest in the project waned, however, and eventually died out. A vehicle road
to the Black Butte summit never materialized.
In February of 1950 Black Butte once again became the center of local
attention. But this occasion was due to the hand of Nature and not a scheme
generated by humans.
Winter's low setting sun revealed a strange golden band wrapped around the
butte's southwest slope. Forest Service personnel from the Sisters Ranger
District reported that the band was three miles in length and three-
quarters
of a mile wide. The gold strip stretching across the bright green background of
trees was spectacular when viewed from the Santiam Highway below.
Sisters Ranger District spokesman Harold Gustafson explained that the color of
the band was produced by sunlight hitting dead, brown pine needles. Prior to
the phenomenon, the area was gripped by extremely cold temperatures, which
caused the needles to dehydrate. A thin stratum of very warm air then moved in
and crowded out the cold air in the area of the band. This sudden increase in
temperature burned the needles.
The needle kill was considered extensive and affected mature as well as young
trees. Foresters believed that no long term damage would occur, but they were
concerned that there would be significant secondary damage if pine beetles
attacked the weakened trees. The gold band remained visible throughout the
season.
Mother Nature again visited Black Butte in September of 1981, when lightning
strikes ignited several fires after nearly three months without precipitation.
The fires eventually burned over 190 acres and took three days to control.
Scars from the fire are still evident, particularly on the north side of the
butte.
