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The Pelican Bay Light is a modern acrylic optic operated on household current, automatically turning on at dusk and off at daylight. It’s signature pattern is 3 white flashes every 20 seconds. The white octagonal tower is 35 feet high and is attached to a private residence. The focal plane of this light is 141 feet above the ocean and it can be seen approximately 12 miles at sea. The Pelican Bay Light is owned and maintained by Bill and Jo Ann Cady.

Bill Cady is no stranger to lighthouses and has always wanted to have a lighthouse of his own. His dad joined the US Lighthouse Service in 1903 and served for 37 years at several of California’s lighthouses. Bill lived and grew up at Point Loma, Cape Mendocino and Trinadad light stations. The Pelican Bay Light went through a rather lengthy process involving local government and the federal bureaucracy before it was activated on July 4, 1999. It is recognized by the USCG as an official private aid to navigation and
overlooks the Port of Brookings Harbor and the mighty Pacific Ocean. It also fills a 110 mile void between Cape Blanco to the north and California’s Trinidad Head.

The Cady’s continue to maintain their lighthouse home as a private residence and it is not open to the public. We ask that you please respect their privacy. The lighthouse can be viewed from the lower end of Boat Basin Road in Brookings Harbor, Oregon.

Thanks for sharing, Darlene. Interesting picture in the fog. Sounds like Mr. Cady had some good foundations in the world of lighthouses before he built Pelican Bay Light.

Thanks for the info, Darlene. This is one I never heard of. It would be interesting to make a "directory" of faux lighthouses. However, this would take a while. Maybe someday.

I think I've heard of it Darlene. If a light's recognized be the Coast Guard, even as a private aid, should it really be classified as a faux lighthouse? Many "real" lighthouses that have been relit are listed as private aids. Faux lighthouses imo are those that are mostly ornamental in nature.

Does Sea Pines qualify as a faux then?

Mel, seeing how Sea Pines is a gift shop, it is as faux as they come.

Never been there, just remember others talking here on the forums about it being built by the city for atmosphere for tourists. :p

Even worse, Mel - it was built by the private development owners. To see this faux light (gift shop) you have to pay to come onto the property. Then I believe you also have to pay to actually go into the building to go to the gift shop.

Dave,

While all yopu say is correct I think that Sea Pines (Hilton Head) is in a class somewhere between true Faux and True Lighthouse.

It was built mostly to promote the Sea Pines development on Hilton Head but is is used as a marker for the Inland Waterway so it is not in the same category as some bulding built in the shape of a Lighthouse with no apparent purpose towards navigation likle the water tower in MD near the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

That's a true Faux- it's miles from water, but looks like a real lighthouse. Just my opinion of course.

Then there's the real Faux- the Shurgard Storage buildings that have a trademark of having a Lighthouse shaped building as their office.

Dennis

When I was talking with a very knowledgeable person about lighthouses, Pelican Bay in particular, they stated they had not heard of this one. I was wondering if this was the case among others and as a result started this thread. In my opinion Pelican Bay is not a faux lighthouse as it is recognized by the USCG as an active private aid to navigation.

If you wish to discuss faux lighthouses, would you please start another thread for that purpose. I am really curious as to how many are aware of Pelican Bay.

Thanks much everyone.
Darlene

Darlene,

To answer your question- I was not aware of Pelican Bay Lighthouseprior to your post.

I have not done much research into Washington State Lighthouse yet, though. I've only been as far north on the West Coast as Bandon River Light. I'm hoping to get to some Washington Lights this July.

Dennis