Lasco, California

Lasco
Seasonal logging camp
Lasco is located in California
Lasco
Lasco
Location in California
Lasco is located in the United States
Lasco
Lasco
Lasco (the United States)
Coordinates: 40°25′21″N 120°58′22″W / 40.42250°N 120.97278°W / 40.42250; -120.97278
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyLassen County
Elevation5,574 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.
  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c 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