I first saw Cline Cabin in 1972. We saw it a second time in 1973. It was located along FR143, Four Peaks Road, in the Tonto National Forest. The first time we drove Four Peaks road was in 1972 in my brother's bright, red-orange Willys Jeep. At that time there was a Forest Service sign pointing the way to Cline Cabin. It was a short drive down a dirt road that I now know is FR143A, to the old cabin. I remember the cabin was green and had a funny looking roof. It had a large, screened in area. Inside I remember someone had written on the wall, "George Washington slept here." There were no digital cameras back then and developing film was expensive so unfortunately we didn't take many pictures of the cabin. On October 12, 2009 I found the site where the cabin used to be. It's a bare spot, a dirt turnaround at the end of FR143A. I did find 2 old cement water troughs at the cabin site, one near where the cabin used to be, and the second one on the other side of Picadilla creek. The creek was dry, but the spring we took a picture of in 1973 was still there. The creek bed looked more eroded because of the fairly recent wildfire that burned the area. The two mesquite trees by the gate in the old picture were still there, but all the fencing was gone. I am trying to find out what happened to the cabin. I emailed a letter to Tonto National Forest about it.
UPDATE: On October 20, 2009 I received an answer from Tonto National Forest concerning what happened to Cline Cabin. Their answer was, "Cline Cabin burned to the ground in an arson started fire. We think it happened in the early 80s."
If you visit this site PLEASE stay on designated roads and do not make new ones with your vehicle. Take out your trash with you.
Cline Cabin in 1972
Shirley at Cline Cabin in 1973
The Jeep at Cline Cabin site
Same shot as the first old picture of the cabin
Where the old picture of the cabin was taken
The two mesquite trees that are in the old picture
Old trough at Cline Cabin site
Ballantine Trail passes by Cline Cabin Site
Spring in Picadilla Creek
Tammy and Lerayne by the spring in Picadilla Creek in 1973
Sycamores in Picadilla Creek
Fire-burned pine above Picadilla Creek
Fall color on the bank of Picadilla creek - Sumac species
Second water trough on the North side of Picadilla creek
We were just there today, January 3, 2016...no sign but the troughs were still there. We even hiked around trying to find the cabin...who knew we had parked where it had been. Thank you for the pictures...mystery solved. Sad people have to destroy history.
Guest
23-Jan-2015 21:31
Thank you so much for this info! It was really useful in helping me georeference a university specimen. :)
Guest
29-Nov-2011 14:56
It sickens me to see what some people are capable of. That cabin stood for almost 100 years and some asshole has to burn it?
Guest
27-Sep-2011 06:53
I saw the Cline cabin sign as recent as 2002. On my most recent visit in 2011 the sign for Cline cabin was missing