Visitor Picture Submissions by Year, Oldest Climber and Volunteer Activities

Oak Island Bridge Closure

To all Lighthouse Visitors: As of Monday October 15th 2018 and running through April 2019 the NC DOT will be performing major maintenance to the Barbee access bridge (Old Bridge – east end) onto Oak Island. The bridge is expected to be CLOSED this entire time. The Swains Cut bridge (at Middleton Rd. – center island) will remain open. If you are coming from the Ft. Fisher Ferry, Southport or points east, please allow AT LEAST an extra 20 minutes for the trip. All visitors should plan on extra travel time as all traffic onto and off of the island will be using Oak Island Dr. The Lighthouse will remain open during this period and we look forward to seeing everyone “At the Top”.
Lighthouse Volunteer Staff

Financial Support for the Lighthouse

The Oak Island Lighthouse is owned by the Town of Caswell Beach, however, all governance, tours and maintenance activities are run by a 501c(3) Tax Exempt organization (FOIL - Friends of Oak Island Lighthouse) that the town created. If you would like to help support the Lighthouse and our "Keeping Our Light Strong" campaign to fund our recent repairs, your tax deductible donation would be greatly appreciated. 100% of all donations and profits from our merchandise sales go to the maintenance of the lighthouse. FOIL is completely run by volunteers, have NO paid staff and receive no funding from the government. THANK YOU!

Checks may be made out to FOIL and sent to:
Friends of Oak Island Lighthouse
1100 Caswell Beach Rd.
Caswell Beach, NC 28465

Top Tour Availibility

We accept reservations year round for Top Tour requests with AT LEAST 2 weeks advanced notice for a reservation and 4 weeks in JUNE, JULY and AUGUST. Last minute requests (less than 2 or 4 weeks in advance) will be considered if other tours have already been scheduled and space still remains (maximum of approximately 20 climbers per tour).

Summer top tours (Memorial Day through Labor Day) are only scheduled in the mornings on Tuesdays and Thursdays and some Sundays.
Please visit our tour webpage here ==> tour page for additional details and to request your tour.

Touring the Oak Island Lighthouse

Public "no reservation required" free tours to the second level (NOT to the top) are offered every Wednesday and Saturday (10 AM - 2 PM) ONLY starting Memorial Day and running through Labor Day. Visitors climb 1 level (12 steps) for anyone age 7 and up. A docent will provide information about the lighthouse and answer any questions you may have.

Climbing to the top is available year round for anyone 9 years or older with AT LEAST 2 weeks advanced notice for a reservation and 4 weeks in JUNE, JULY and AUGUST. Requests with less than 2 or 4 weeks notice will be offered the opportunity to join already scheduled tours IF openings exist. Memorial Day through Labor Day, top tours are only offered on Tuesday and Thursday mornings and under some circumstances on Sunday mornings. We are closed on most major holidays. Top tours are up 131 metal ship stairs to an outside balcony and are currently offered free of charge and by appointment only. Please check our tour page for additional details and to find out how you can request a tour.