Observation Deck

In October 2010, at a cost of nearly $16,000, the construction of the observation deck was finally completed.  In 2007 the GCPT was awarded over $14,000 from the King’s Daughters and Sons Circle Number Two that was designated for this project.  The location of the eastern slough was chosen because of the beauty of its natural setting, and plans were set in motion upon receipt of the KD grant.  Traditionally, this slough had been dry during the summer and fall months but from 2007 until the summer of 2010, the slough remained too wet to safely construct the foundation of the deck.  King’s Daughters Circle requires that grant monies be spent within a calendar year but because of the unusual circumstances regarding the abundance of rainfall during the three year period between receiving the grant money and the building of the deck, a weather-necessitated exception was made for the preserve.

The all wood construction deck with its multiple unique features was designed by Bob Gramling, a founding trustee of the Preserve, and is named in his honor.  Bob died unexpectedly on July 19, 2010, and is greatly missed by the Preserve Trustees.  Bob had a keen artistic sense for how the trails should look and a deep desire that they be made accessible to the public with minimum detriment to the surrounding terrain. With his multiple design and engineering talents, he was able to bring all this to fruition for the enjoyment and pleasure of the friends of the preserve.  The trails were completed as he had envisioned, and the unfinished deck was seen to completion by a fellow trustee, Herbert H. Huddleston, Jr., with the building done by Vernon Yost & Sons Construction.  A memory  regarding the tedious details of the construction that is special and dear to the trustees, is that Mr. Yost and his sons were able to accomplish this remarkable feat of building over and among the myriad cypress knees with only ONE very tall cypress knee  being “topped” to make room for the deck.