Welcome to the Oak Island Lighthouse

Official Tour Headquarters!

OPEN Weekly

Please read the following so that you are aware of what to expect upon arrival at the lighthouse.

  Weekly Seasonal Tour Information  

Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 AM till 2 PM
Wednesday Before Memorial Day until Wednesday After Labor Day
Please Note:  Our Weekly Tours are to the 2nd level ONLY. 
No tours to the top will be arranged on Wednesdays or Saturdays, No Exceptions.

·         Our weekly seasonal tours are only to the 2nd level of the tower, NOT to the observation balcony at the top!

·         Children MUST be 7 years or older to enter the lighthouse due to government safety regulations.

·         No more than 15 visitors will be allowed inside the tower at any time.

·         Visitors are requested not to wear flip-flops, high heels, open-toed or hard leather heels/soles. Sneakers are the preferred shoes.

·         Climbers are required to have both hands free for climbing due to the steepness of our steps.  No exceptions will be made!

·         Weather permitting (we can not allow visitors in the lighthouse if there is lightning in the area)

·         There are no Restroom facilities on site

·         All tours are free of charge

    Climb to the Top (year-round by appointment only):

·         Tours to the top of the tower and outside balcony must be scheduled ahead of time with the following conditions: 

o    Based on volunteer availability

o    Request needs to be submitted online at least 2 weeks prior to arrival.

o    Weather permitting (we can not climb if there is lightning in the area)

o    Will not be conducted during the normal weekly tour days.

o    Everyone climbing the tower is required to sign waivers 

o    Parents are required to sign for those under the age of 16

o    Climbers must be at least 9 years old.

o    Sneakers or similar closed toe, rubber sole shoes are REQUIRED - absolutely NO sandals or flip-flops

o    Climbers are required to have both hands free for climbing due to the steepness of our steps.

·         Parking is limited so car pooling is encouraged.

·         Complete tour usually takes about 30-45 minutes.

·         There are no Restroom facilities on site.

·         Cameras/video recorders are encouraged but must be in a back/fanny-pack or fit in a pocket/on a belt (both hands must be free).

·         Still interested, request a free tour to the top (HERE)

  Information about Our Tower:

        Now that the formalities are out of the way, and you are qualified to climb you may be wondering "Why all of the restrictions?"

 

        To begin, no matter how many lighthouses you have climbed, you have never seen a tower as unique as this one!  As most lighthouses have spiral stairs to the top, we have ships ladders! We have a challenging series of steep ladders totaling 131 steps to the top!  There are a series of landings for resting on your way up near each window.  As if that wasn't enough of a challenge, a lot of visitors are also overwhelmed due to the fact that you can stand at the bottom and see straight up to the lights!  As you can see from the picture here, if you have a fear of heights, you may want to enjoy our pictures instead of climbing.

 

        Please note, a lot can be seen from the 2nd level tour offered twice per week.  It requires that you climb one set of our ships ladders to reach it however, it is solid behind the steps and the 2nd level is solid concrete.  From the 2nd level you can see the colors used to pour the lighthouse.  The black and white were mixed into the cement as the lighthouse was constructed and it will never need painted!  You can also see the supply elevator that is used by maintenance personnel to get supplies to the top of the tower.

 

     If you have any questions concerning tours, our tower, or just general information, please feel free to contact us!