Visiting a Haunted Lighthouse This Halloween: A Practical Guide

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Lighthouses and ghost stories belong together. They stand alone on cliffs and ledges, they were kept by families who lived through storms and shipwrecks, and many of them have a tale or two of a keeper who never quite left. Late October is a wonderful time to visit: the summer crowds are gone, the light is low and golden, and some lighthouses hold special ghost-themed events. Here is how to plan a haunted lighthouse visit this Halloween.

Choose your lighthouse

Lighthouses that welcome visitors

Many of the lighthouses on this site are museums or parks that you can visit. The St. Augustine Lighthouse in Florida has a museum and has offered evening ghost tours. The Pensacola Lighthouse is now a museum too. In Michigan, the Old Presque Isle Lighthouse is run as a museum by the township, and in Maine, the grounds of Owls Head Light are part of a state park.

Lighthouses with limited access

Others open only on special days. Point Lookout in Maryland, often called America’s most haunted lighthouse, holds occasional open houses and some evening paranormal events in the fall. Seguin Island in Maine is reached by boat in summer only, so it is one to save for next year.

Check before you go

Hours, tours and access change often, especially in the off-season. Look at each lighthouse’s own website or social pages the week you plan to visit, and book any evening tour early.

Ghost tours and evening events

Evening tours are the best way to see a haunted lighthouse after dark, legally and safely. Guides usually tell the history of the station, the keepers and their families, then share the ghost stories and point out where things have been reported. Some events let small groups bring their own recorders or cameras. They often sell out, so book as soon as dates are announced.

If you can’t find an evening event, a daytime visit is still worth it. Climb the tower if it is open, walk the keeper’s house and read the stories on the walls. Many keepers’ houses are where the ghost stories actually happen, as at Heceta Head, where the Gray Lady is said to haunt the house, not the tower.

What to bring

• Layers. Coastal wind in late October can be bitter, even on a sunny day.
• Good shoes. Tower stairs are steep and narrow, and paths can be wet.
• A small flashlight. Use a dim or red setting on evening tours and ask the guide first.
• A notebook. Jot down the time, place and anything unusual you notice.
• Something to read. New England’s Haunted Lighthouses is a great companion for a fall trip up the coast.

Stay safe on the coast

Lighthouses are built in dangerous places. Stay on marked paths and behind railings, and never climb on rocks or seawalls, especially in high surf. Check tide times if a path crosses a beach, and give yourself plenty of daylight to get back. Many lighthouses are also active aids to navigation or sit on Coast Guard or Navy property, so respect fences and signs.

Lighthouse etiquette

• Stay with your guide on tours, and don’t wander into closed rooms.
• Don’t touch lenses, machinery or artifacts.
• Keep noise down if the keeper’s house is someone’s home or a bed and breakfast.
• Leave no trace. Take your trash and leave shells and stones where they are.

Bring the kids

Lighthouses are a great family Halloween trip, because the stories can be as gentle or as spooky as you like. Choose a daytime visit, let the kids count the stairs and look for the lens, and save the ghost stories for the car ride home. A picture book like Hello Lighthouse is a sweet way to start, and for older kids, Haunted Places has stories from around the world.

FAQ

What is the most haunted lighthouse in America?

Point Lookout in Maryland often gets the title because of the Civil War prison camp beside it, but St. Augustine and others have plenty of fans.

Can I visit a lighthouse at night?

Only on an organized evening tour or event. Grounds usually close at dusk.

Are lighthouse ghost tours suitable for children?

Many are, but some evening events set a minimum age. Check when you book.

Which haunted lighthouse is on the West Coast?

Try Point Vicente in California or Heceta Head in Oregon.