Oak Island Lighthouse Climb

I ended my lighthousing by visiting Oak Island Lighthouse. Thanks to the Lighthouse Pixie, I was hooked up with some 'FOIL' Friends of Oak Island Lighthouse who allowed me to climb. What a great ending to my NC lighthouse adventure. I'll post pictures and info later. Just had to express my joy of this unique experience!
Bob

Friends of Oak Island Lighthouse
1100 Caswell Beach Road
Caswell Beach, NC 28465

910-278-1328
fax 278--5490

Oak Island LH

Nice clean website. Thanks for the link, Bob.

Way to go, Bob! You are right; that was a great way to end the trip. Thanks for the link!

Saw Oak Island lighthouse on he way up to the Tidewater Event. Sure wish we had gotten to climb it.
I thought the area was really beautiful. I could easily have spent a week there!

Caswell Beach is a really pretty area...esp. when you can stand on the beach and see Oak Island LH up close and Bald Head in the distance!

Bob, you got to climb a light that is not open to many. I've had a tour of the new CG building and have been inside the tower, but never have climbed. What a great way to wind up your trip!

Price Creek from Ft Story Ferry


Oak Island Lighthouse


Starting Steep Climb On Stairs


Elevator??? Dumb Waiter for Tools & Materials


Interior Cement with Color Ring Pigment


View from Top Towards Beaches

Lucky you Bob to have gotten inside Oak Island. I was happy just to have seen it in March. I wasn't happy however that the fool developer lost my film that had my Oak Island photos. Didn't have my new digital yet and didn't bother taking the old one. Live and learn I guess.

I didn't carry up my long lens so I didn't get much more than a shadow on the horizon view of Bald Head Island Lighthouse.
The 3 rings of color were done with pigmented cement so the lighthouse never has to be painted.
FOIL has a nice setup since the lighthouse was built in 1958. The newness & pigmented cement have been big pluses to maintenance of this lighthouse. Landscaping & keeping an eye on interior leaks are the big concerns.
One of the Board Members lives in the restored Keepers House just down the road.
There is only room for about 4 cars adjacent to the lighthouse and it is separate from the Coast Guard Base.
How many other LHs are the same diameter from bottom to top 16 feet 4 3/4 inches, done in one continuous pour for 6 days, and have a series of ships ladders with a total of 134 steps?
The Docents that were our hosts said the Coasties run up the steps and slide down the rails to get down. (Maybe next time?) The climb is very steep, and the decents seems steeper!
Caswell Beach - Very neat area!
Bob

The people from FOIL now have liability insurance, and will accept appointments to view and climb the light. But you know how that is, go soon before the insurance company decides to multiply the costs.

Thanks to all my friends here on the Forum who helped with shared hints, directions, recommendations, etc. which made our trip more predictable, and enjoyable. Thanks to Judy, Stephen, Derith, Gebby, Ron Drummer, and many more.

Bob & MaryAnn

Thanks for posting the pictures, Bob! That climb does look pretty steep - well worth it, I know.

I am glad you got to climb bob. Did they let you climb into the lantern room? It's dangerous but very cool. Those aero beacons are constantly turning, and you have to plaster yourself against the glass to be out of the way of them.

I am the webmaster for the Oak Island lighthouse. I saw you had some pictures from you tour. If you see any you like on www.oakislandlighthouse.org let me know, and i can email you the originals. I made them smaller for space and loading purposes.

Nice site Brian! Only got to look up at lantern room.

Great photos-just don't know about those stairs!

I love that gremlin!
Judy

Welcome Brian - very nice website. Thanks for joining us here at the CF

Bob, Looks like a weekend trip to the beach very soon. Thanks for the contact info. I had heard it was an interesting climb.

Ken