I was just perusing Flickr when I came upon this shot of Bodie:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jimdollar/4073975450/

And something struck me as odd...is the lantern...empty?

If so, that means, hopefully, only one thing: restoration is beginning! Strange as the lighthouse looks without the gorgeous Fresnel in there, it's worth it to know that in two years, it'll be back in place in a renewed lighthouse!

Yes the light was turned off in September. Here is a page with the park service announcement.

http://eastcarolinaradio.blogspot.com/2009/09/bodie-island-and-ocracoke-lighthouses.html