Lasco, California

Lasco
Seasonal logging camp
Lasco Location in California Show map of California Lasco Lasco (the United States) Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 40°25′21″N 120°58′22″W
Country	United States
State	California
County	Lassen County
Elevation [1]	5,574 ft (1,699 m)

Lasco was a seasonal logging camp in Lassen County, California.[1] It was located on what was the Fernley and Lassen Railway branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad 8 miles (13 km) north of Westwood,[2] at an elevation of 5574 feet (1699 m).[1]

Lasco was the site of a prominent logging camp constructed in 1922.[3][4][5] It opened in 1923, and was a seasonal home for 250 loggers as well as their families.[3] The camp was reportedly so attractive that cars would pull in thinking it was a summer resort.[6]

Seasonal occupation ended after the 1930 logging season.[3][7] Evidence of the camp could still be found on the ground according to a 1983 U.S. Forest Service report.[8]

The former Lasco rail station now lies along the Bizz Johnson trail, which was created after the Fernley and Lassen Railway line was abandoned in 1978.[9]

1955 USGS map showing site of Lasco along rail line.

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Lasco, California
2. Durham, David L. (1998). California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Clovis, Calif.: Word Dancer Press. p. 392. ISBN 1-884995-14-4.
3. Purdy, Tim. "Exploring Lassen County's Past". tipurdy. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
4. Myrick, David F. Railroads of Nevada and Eastern California: Volume 3, p. 564 (2016)
5. Lasco Camp (photograph) (c. 1923), CSU Chico Digital Collections
6. California District News Letter, Volume 5 (1924)
7. (18 May 2015). This Day In History (snippet on 1930 logging season opening, and photograph from Camp Lasco circa 1925)
8. Recreation activity management plan for the Susanville - Westwood Trail, California, p. 29 (1983)
9. Juillerat, Lee (23 October 2015). Mountain Biking the Bizz Johnson Trail, Herald and News

External links

• Camp Lasco photos (c. 1923), UNLV Libraries.