Ranger Gord's Fire Tower

This old lookout tower (Ferndale Tower) was built in the middle of the 20th century as a lookout for the Ferndale Resort just north of Port Carling on the Ferndale Rd. Many nowadays have specualted that it was an actually fire tower used by the former Department of Lands and Forests. It was not. However, it is famous for being used as a fire tower on the "Red Green Show" where Ranger Gord took his lookouts from.

Ranger Gord

PETER KELEGHAN

Ranger Gord is fire tower watchman who has been manning his tower for 16 years without a vacation, a professional development day, or more than five minutes sleep. Naturally this lack of rest has somewhat lowered Ranger Gord(a)s efficiency--he once mistook a log for a naked woman. He(a)s also had no pay cheque for the last 15 years, but when Red suggests head office may have forgotten him he poo-poos the idea with a kind of desperate look in his eyes. Gord has had no visitors, male or especially female, so he(a)s somewhat needy and desperate when anyone shows up. So no one does. Except Red. Ranger Gord is eager to please, "Look Red I opened five cans of creamed corn in honour of your visit." Red never stays long, and Gord tries not to cry or scream when Red goes...."Come back soon. Good to see you... See you soon. Tomorrow maybe?" Gords only friends are the animals. And the bugs. And the plants. And many rocks. Well, actually the rocks think he(a)s a bit wearing and annoying.

Today the wooden tower still stands alone, but has been boarded up at the bottom so that nobody can climb and injure themselves..

For more info. on fire towers in Ontario go here: Ontario(a)s Fire Tower Lookouts.