More from the Quirpon Lighthouse Inn

Here is a wonderful photo sent to me by Ed English of the Quirpon Lighthouse Inn in Newfoundland, Canada. And below is a brief but amazing video clip that goes well with the photo.

The London Free Press called the Lighthouse Inn at Quirpon Island "a cozy, secluded outpost that seems as if it's perched at the edge of the world."

Click here for more on the inn.

A Favorite Escape – North Head Lighthouse

Click here for a very nice blog entry about North Head Lighthouse in Washington.

Two of the keeper's residences are available as vacation rentals.

Photo: North Head Lighthouse at Twilight, SW Coast, Washington
Originally uploaded on Flickr by Tony the Misfit (taking a break)

Be a lighthouse keeper at the Grand Traverse Lighthouse

Grand Traverse Lighthouse
Originally uploaded by Trish Petrat

By The Grand Rapids Press
January 23, 2010

For those drawn to the history and mystery of lighthouses, a lighthouse keepers program provides for overnight, even weeklong, stays in one.

The Grand Traverse Lighthouse Museum, 9 miles north of Northport on Lake Michigan, is seeking lighthouse keepers.

Keepers, who live in the lighthouse apartment for one or two weeks, greet visitors, run the gift shop and perform minor grounds maintenance.
The program runs April-November and costs $220 per person per week. A new winter keepers program, $100 per night, (up to quad occupancy) also is available. Info: (231) 386-7195.

Saugerties Lighthouse Vacation

Another video on the Saugerties Lighthouse, NY, by YouTube user rnjvideo.

Getting to the Saugerties Lighthouse

I visited the Saugerties Lighthouse, on the Hudson River in New York, in late 2008 when I was working on my book The Lighthouse Handbook: Hudson River and New York Harbor. I was very impressed by this restored lighthouse. It's beautifully and appropriately furnished -- one of the most attractive lighthouse properties I've ever visited. It's also one of the small number of American lighthouses that offers overnight stays; see www.saugertieslighthouse.com for details.




Here's a video description on how to get to the Saugerties Lighthouse, posted by YouTube user "rnjvideo" --

Quirpon Island Experience - Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada

Quirpon Island Lighthouse Inn is at the most northerly tip of the island of Newfoundland, Canada. One of the two lightkeeper buildings has been refurbished for overnight accommodations, with six bedrooms. Click here to learn more.

In this video, explore the waters with Ed English as he goes kayaking by Quirpon Lighthouse Inn, right off Quirpon Island. This area is a popular destination for tourists, as it boasts the longest whale-watching and iceberg viewing season in Newfoundland and Labrador. Kayaking at Quirpon Island has been named the #1 Adventure in the world by OUTPOST!

A Bit of News from the Keeper's Lodge at Middle Island, Michigan

The Middle Island Keepers' Lodge is in a former fog signal building on majestic Lake Huron, between the North Point of Thunder Bay and Presque Isle in Alpena County, Michigan. A tour of Middle Island's lighthouse is included with every stay. Click here for details.


2009 was a different kind of year. I never saw a lake rise almost two feet in a few months (let alone a Great Lake) and then recede at least one foot in the fall. I guess you could say that it was a cleansing summer with all the rain we received. So goes the Earth's natural cycles.

Middle Island Light Station did get a bit of a face lift this year, and the rain played an important part. During late July and early August, the area around the keepers' quarters was actually covered with sixty (+) yards of topsoil. "How did we get such a large amount of topsoil 2 1/2 miles from the mainland?” you ask. Lots of manpower!

The topsoil came in the form of some 1,560 forty-pound plastic bags. The bags were ferried to the island aboard Island Freighter II. Rod Olson, Jack Olson, and Larry Frantz helped for two full days as we made approximately fifteen trips. We had just enough calm waters to get the black soil moved. Waves, in the form of rollers, were wrapping around the island as we were finishing our last trips. The water depth in front of the Keepers' Lodge was shallow where we unloaded, so it is fortunate that the wind was from the south.

Once all the topsoil was over to the island, there was a sigh of relief. The fun, however, was just beginning. Some workers (four then later five) came from Hancock, Michigan, and were arriving at Rockport Harbor to hitch a ride to the island. They came to help spread the topsoil, plant grass, plant trees and flowers, etc. around Middle Island's Light Station. The landscaping materials and other supplies took an additional four trips to the island from Rockport. After five days of continuous labor, there were twenty trees planted, about thirty flowers and shrubs planted, and a lot of grass seed spread. It was a successful week with no real hitches. The rain held off so that we could get the job done. Later, we received numerous showers to get all the vegetation growing again. Thank you, God.

I took a skid loader to the island to extend a rock pier in front of the Keeper's Lodge. We unloaded topsoil on that pier. Including prep work, mobilization, and demobilization, the whole topsoil project took fourteen days. Many thanks are given to Rod, Jack, and Larry for helping make this project happen.

We had numerous lodge customers "tough it out" and stay the night at the lodge this summer. A group of two couples were staying the night when we were moving the topsoil to the island. They seemed to like watching the activity and even helped out a bit. A family from Waterford, Michigan, had proven that the cormorants did not eat all the fish around the island. They caught at least three good sized small mouth bass by the life saving station. They took lots of pictures. I think that family had a great time. That was the third time this nice family from Waterford made it to the island. Don't forget to bring your poles, and take advantage of the free boat usage as well!

Another suggestion I would like to add: You could see a lot of interesting underwater landscape if you bring a snorkel, mask, and fins on your next trip. Wet suit is optional. The sinkhole, Portsmouth and limestone formations are very cool to look at and are all on the north side of the island. A group of SCUBA divers from the Grand Rapids area had a terrific weekend on the island this year. They enjoyed four local shipwrecks while staying two nights. I was pleasantly surprised to see more guests staying two nights (+) this year. It takes more than just one night to relax and unwind.

I do appreciate repeat customers and want to thank everyone for spreading the word about the uniqueness of Middle Island. As a token of my appreciation, I would like to give ten percent off the 2010 rates to anyone that has already stayed at the lodge. Also, new customers can stay with us any Monday-Thursday evening, and we'll give you 10% off yoru entire stay!

So book your vacation now, for the 2010 summer is bound to be a good one!

-- Capt. Mike

Click here for the Middle Island Keepers Lodge website.

Welcome to this new site!

For about 12 years, I've maintained a list of lighthouses around the world with overnight accommodations, as part of my larger New England Lighthouses site (www.lighthouse.cc). You can click here to see the list.

This new site will focus on individual stories about lighthouses with accommodations. Are you an owner or manager of a lighthouse inn? Would you like to share your personal story of staying at a lighthouse? Please let me know at nelights@gmail.com.