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Lasco, California facts for kids

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Lasco
Seasonal logging camp
Lasco is located in California
Lasco
Lasco
Location in California
Lasco is located in the United States
Lasco
Lasco
Location in the United States
Country United States
State California
County Lassen County
Elevation
5,574 ft (1,699 m)

Lasco was once a busy seasonal logging camp located in Lassen County, California. It was a temporary home for many loggers and their families who worked in the forests nearby. This camp was about 8 kilometers (5 miles) north of Westwood, high up at 1699 meters (5574 feet) above sea level.

What Was Lasco?

Lasco was a special place built in 1922, designed to be a home away from home for about 250 loggers. It opened in 1923. These workers and their families lived there during the logging season. The camp was so nice that people sometimes thought it was a summer resort!

Life at the Logging Camp

Imagine a whole community living together just for logging! Lasco provided housing and facilities for these workers. They would cut down trees, which was a very important job for building homes and other things back then.

When Lasco Closed Down

The camp was only used seasonally, meaning people lived there for part of the year. After the logging season in 1930, people stopped living there. Even decades later, in 1983, you could still find signs of the old camp on the ground, according to a report from the U.S. Forest Service.

Westwood CA 1955 USGS Lasco
1955 USGS map showing site of Lasco along rail line.

Lasco's Railway Connection

Lasco was located along a special railway line called the Fernley and Lassen Railway. This line was part of the larger Southern Pacific Railroad system. Trains were super important for moving logs from the camp to other places.

The Bizz Johnson Trail Today

The Fernley and Lassen Railway line was no longer used after 1978. But the old railway path wasn't forgotten! It was turned into a popular trail called the Bizz Johnson Trail. So, where trains once carried logs, people now hike and bike, enjoying the beautiful nature. The former Lasco rail station is now part of this trail.

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