Visitor Picture Submissions by Year, Oldest Climber and Volunteer Activities

Top Tour Availibility

Due to the Executive order issued by Governor Cooper on Saturday 3/14/20 stating that all public venues be canceled until further notice, the Town of Caswell Beach and the Friends of Oak Island Lighthouse will comply and have suspended all tours until at least the last week of September. No reservations for any tours will be accepted at this time. Please check back the last week of September for an update on the status of tours. Our primary concern is for the safety of our visitors and health of our all volunteer staff.
Once tours have been reinstated, 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. There is a maximum of approximately 20 climbers per tour and ALL tours are in the MORNINGS and climbers MUST be at least 9 years old.

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

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

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 after 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 in the mornings on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. 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.