Situated along the shady canopy of towering spruce and fir, Fry Meadow Guard Station sits at the edge of an expansive meadow of grasses and beautiful splashes of color from wildflowers, such as lupine, larkspur, monkey flower and orchids. Enjoy the peaceful solitude of this remote nature-lover’s paradise just south of the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness and west of the Wild and Scenic Grande Ronde River.
Fry Meadow Guard Station, a two-room cabin with a combined living room/sleeping area and a kitchen, offers visitors a rustic camping experience. The cabin is furnished with four beds with mattresses and a table and chairs, and the kitchen is equipped with a propane cook stove. Both rooms have propane lights, but there is no heating. There is no water on site, and visitors must bring plenty for drinking, cooking and washing. An outhouse is located near the cabin. Pets are welcome but must be leashed and outside. There is additional space in the yard for tent camping.
- Availability: Fry Meadow Guard Station is available for rent May 15 through November 20.
- Price and Capacity: $40 per night per group, with a maximum of four occupants. Fees are used directly for the maintenance and preservation of the guard station.
- Reservations: The maximum-length stay is fourteen consecutive nights. Phone 1-877-444-6777 or visit www.recreation.gov
History
This site was originally established as a ranger station before 1908 as part of the former Wenaha National Forest. The existing cabin was constructed in the early 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corp and was used as a remote guard station until about 1980.
The area, particularly the nearby Grande Ronde River and Valley, is steeped with native history and culture as it was home to the Nez Perce, Umatilla, Walla Walla, and Cayuse Indians. The tribes raised strong, wiry little horses (widely praised by white settlers for their keen ability to herd cattle) on the Grande Ronde Valley range, and often hunted and dug for camas roots in the area.
