Oak Island Lighthouse NC 3-1-25 This lighthouse is in Caswell beach NC. It looks like it's made of cement and built in 1958. You can climb it but you have to reserve a guided tour online then you can climb it. It is 153 feet high and has ships ladders for steps to get to the top. You will have to go a total of 131 ladder steps. This beach area is beautiful, and we had to add this Lighthouse to our tour. Open house tours are offered Memorial Day through Labor Day Wednesday & Saturday. Other than the Lighthouse and beach there is nothing else to see. I would not make a special trip to see it but if you're in the area or want to add it to you list of seen Lighthouses go for sure. I give this Lighthouse a 4 out of 5 stars. Follow Me On Fb For More Reviews Gulf Coast Terry read more

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Went to see this lighthouse with my family expecting some boring lighthouse. No it's not boring. I actually had a good time here and the beach access is very close which is also nice. I don't know much about lighthouses but I know this is a good one read more

Oak Island Lighthouse - amazingness - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

Fun place to visit, great lighthouse with a lot of history overlooking the ocean. Nice relaxing place. read more

Oak Island Lighthouse - Oak Island Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

I like lighthouses and this absolutely is one: not great, not terrible, mainly it's sealed up tight as a drum and the rest of the station is surrounded by some serious fencing with subtle hints about staying away because bad things can happen and nobody wants that... what I actually want is a place to stop so I can figure out how to see the soothing sea side outside and while I'm alongside... I'd also like to walk the grounds and maybe get a peek in the window at the secret stuff going on inside but that's not going to happen any time soon because, well, you know... the Wagner Group Matters et al. so yeah, thirty minutes of parking can be had right up front and you can stay up to an hour across the road if you agree to use the scenic route over the dunes and not walk along the roadway and you get a nice view of the station from up on the bluff too. read more

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I am a sucker for a lighthouse. When I visited it was not open so I didn't get the chance to see inside. However just to see it was cool. There is a small parking lot at the lighthouse which holds about five cars. However if full there is a larger parking lot just a short drive passed the lighthouse on the right. There is also a small boardwalk leading to the beach across the street from the lighthouse. read more

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It was a spontaneous visit to Oak Island, so we decided to visit the light house. The light house looks so cool and look pretty great from the outside but it was closed since we didn't have reservation to go inside. Another review I read here on yelp said we need to make reservation to go inside the light house. Since we didn't get to go in, we crossed across the street and visit the beach. Still a good visit nevertheless. read more

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This is a free lighthouse to visit and climb. I came after jokes so was unable to climb but I still enjoyed the beautiful area around it. The view is so peaceful and I really enjoyed the whole vibe. There are about 4 parking spaces and you are allowed to be there 30 minutes. Across the street is a path to the beach where you can have a great view of the lighthouse. read more

Oak Island Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

Oak Island Lighthouse is located on Caswell Beach NC. The lighthouse is the state's newest as it was constructed in 1958. It is 17 stories and can be seen for 24 miles as it has one of the brightest lights. It was closed when I was there so I did not get to see the ship ladders inside but I thank another reviewer for posting photos of those steep ship ladders. I found it interesting that the concrete was colored when created so that it is permanent. Natural gray was used for the bottom; quartz white for the middle and black for the top. Great views of the lighthouse can be seen from the boardwalk across the street. You can even walk down to the beach. read more

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Such an amazing experience!! Definitely recommend it! The guides were all extremely helpful and knowledgeable. read more

Oak Island Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

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The geography of the United States doesn't have too many sharp corners but this one near Wilmington is a corner where North Carolina and the Cape Fear River kind of juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. If you're not going to take the ferry over to Bald Island and/or ride down from Kure Beach, this is as close as you'll get. The lighthouse was replaced in 1958 and today runs four 2.5 million candlepower lenses that produce four one-second burst of light every ten seconds. The tower is 153 feet tall. The luminous range is an astonishing 24 nautical miles. The lighthouse does open for tours but not during off-season and I couldn't tell you if they're closed because of COVID. You can still stop by, walk the nearby boardwalk to the beach and view this wonderful structure. Interestingly, the tower is not painted. The white and black colors were actually mixed into the 8 inch thick walls before it was poured and set. There is limited parking nearby and don't park on the roadway. [Review 13978 overall, round number 1300 of 2020, number 2618 in North Carolina.] read more

Oak Island Lighthouse - Oak Island Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

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Every time I come this was I have to take pictures of the lighthouse.. it's majestic and the area surrounding it is serene and peaceful. It was a beautiful day and I'm glad I stopped by. Makes you take the walk across street to a wooden walkway that has a variety of informational signs about vegetation, animals, other area lighthouses and history. Then of course there's the beach.. you could see bald head lighthouse from the beach in the distance.. great day well spent. read more

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I enjoy visiting lighthouses, and the NC coast has no shortage of them. While visiting Wilmington, we took the scenic route home and made a stop at the Oak Island Lighthouse. We didn't do the interior tour because you have to plan that about two weeks out, but we still enjoyed the exterior. Very tall and beautiful lighthouse. We walked out to the beach for a quick minute, and it's nice to see that there is an accessible ramp rather than just stairs. Everyone deserves to see the ocean when they want to. read more

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Currently road tripping theoufh the town and Came across this lighthouse on yelp and had to check it out ! Parking was easy and it's free . The light house looked well maintained. It was really to stand next to it and read about the little history facts . I liked that it was right next to the beach which was an incredible view. I did like that they had a little walk away to it with signs that had history facts about the lighthouse and the beach . Beach was big , clean and found a cool sand dollar! read more

Oak Island Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

Volunteer operated. They were nice and knowledgeable. Although I thought we were going to the second flight of stairs we only went to the first. Would of liked to go to the second floor as stated on the internet, so I could take a picture of the ocean. read more

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Great lighthouse to visit. Easy to walk the beach and get some great pictures. Was not open when we were there for tours. read more

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The NC lighthouses are a must see. This one wasn't overly impressive to me. When we went the lighthouse was closed and we couldn't go inside. In my opinion, one of the best parts is the climb to the top for the beautiful views. We did take a stroll on the beach. The lighthouse was incredibly easy to find. You don't need to get on a ferry or book tickets in advance for this one. read more

Oak Island Lighthouse - Oak Island Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

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Cool for what it is. Nice view at the top and I learned a thing or 2 about lighthouses

Very knowledgeable, courteous and friendly "volunteer" staff. This lighthouse has steep "ship stairs" not spiral like ordinary lighthouses. Tours go up in groups of about 20 at a time and have staff throughout to make sure everyone is safe. The view is spectacular. Highly recommend. read more

Oak Island Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

In all my years, I had never seen a lighthouse up close and personal and it was definitely something I wanted to check off my bucket list. We came midday and I was just amazed at how beautiful and big this tower was. I read that they did tours but we were too late and my son was too young so we wouldn't have been able to participate anyways. Their is parking by the lighthouse and it was plenty empty on our visit. Other cars started to park after we arrived but it wasn't too busy on our visit. There are a few signs around the lighthouse so you can read and get to know about it. Definitely cool! My son was just as intrigued and it was great for photo ops. And it's right across from a beach so definitely worth stopping by! This lighthouse is definitely a must do when in the Oak Island Area. And if you plan it out, you could get a awesome tour! read more

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Went on a week day, you can walk up to the light house but can't go inside. The building was blocked off by a gate too. Not worth the trip in my opinion. read more

YAY, my 400th review & how nice, because I absolutely love this lighthouse! Oak Island Lighthouse is just a short drive from Southport & Wilmington, NC. While the address & the location is in Caswell Beach, it's still called Oak Island Lighthouse. While I was a bit bummed you had to make reservation two weeks in advance (even then it doesn't guarantee anything) to walk all the way up to the top of the lighthouse, I was happy we at least got to walk up to the first level. While there, we got a brief history chat from Gordon, a volunteer, about the lighthouse. It's really neat where the lighthouse is located...right at a Coast Guard station, but yet, surrounded by beach houses. If you're at the road, or even better across the road to the beach access, you can get some great pictures of the lighthouse. I can't wait to come back & walk all the way to the top! read more

Oak Island Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

Wow! What an amazing experience! I have been to Wilmington a few times in the past 3 years and never got the chance to catch a light house tour! So thankful for our guide Steve, so knowledgable and friendly! The light house seems intimidating at first but I was surprised how quickly we arrived at the top! Steve taught us so much about the history and construction of the lighthouse to surrounding areas we could see from the top like the marshes, the ocean and the light house across the water, Big Baldie! Would absolutely recommend this tour to anyone visiting the area, and even the locals if you have never been! Just don't forget your closed toed shoes! read more

Oak Island Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

Unfortunately, the lighthouse was closed due to COVID, but the area was beautiful. It was easy to access from the road. There is easy beach access across the street. On the walkway to the beach, there is numerous historical markings which was interesting. Hopefully it will be open soon! read more

This is a really cool landmark to visit! Unfortunately it was closed for maintenance the day we went to visit. Parking is EXTREMELY limited and with a 30 minute max. Worth the drive just to see it. read more

Part of my vacation plans were to see things I had never seen before, one of them being a lighthouse. Nothing like putting a check on the bucket list! We arrived here too late in the afternoon to get into the lighthouse itself, but it is and old, beautiful, and highly photogenic structure. Located in a residential area of oceanfront beach houses, I do suggest kicking off your shoes for a stroll in the sands across the way from the lighthouse. Very unspoiled beach, and a nesting area for various birds, and even a sea turtle or two! The half-hour spent in the area was pretty much the most relaxing and harmonious time of my entire life. read more

A lighthouse is a lighthouse. But this one is different from the others because it uses ship ladders/stairs so it's very steep. We saw this from down the beach where we were staying and wanted to check it out. My girlfriend has been to 4 our of the 6 in NC. It's next to the coast guard who maintains the lamp/light. Parking is across the street and you are suppose to take the walkway on the back (where the beach is) to get to the crosswalk so you aren't walking on the side of the road. Safety first! There was a sweet lady who greeted us along with a nice lady organizing the souvenirs. You can only go up to the first floor of the lighthouse on a short tour. I believe the minimum age was 7 due to the stairs. It was nice learning about the history and how it came about. The lady was very ecstatic about it as well so it made it more interesting to listen to. She said you can climb to the top but you just go online to reserve it which she suggested 2-4 weeks ahead of time because it's popular and books up fast. They do those on Tues, Thurs and Sun I believe. I will definitely do that next time. Something to do and see besides the beach. read more

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It's a lighthouse right? Who doesn't give a lighthouse five stars right? Not me! Not this time! Ok, a little tongue in cheek humor here as I'm not going with five due to the sand fleas! I was attacked by sand fleas as I was out of the car for two minutes to snap a picture! Lighthouses in NC are a vital part of our history and just so rich with endless stories. The Graveyard of the Atlantic as it used to be known! The one odd thing about this one is the criteria to climb this one. A two week notice, with a reservation, only available on two days, and your hair combed a certain way! Really! Check out their web! read more

Oak Island Lighthouse - Oak Island Lighthouse - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Oak Island, North Carolina

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Very beautiful to see and easy access. You can go right up to it, you cannot enter it. It is free to visit.

Great lighthouse and the tour guides were super nice and helpful. The tour is free, and definitely worth it even if it's just the 12 step first floor tour. The to the top tour is great but not if you have little kids or older people with you. The inside is wonderful and just it's a gorgeous very well kept place. Definitely worth the drive to see it, and say you've been! :) read more

I was there before the old keepers house, use as a office for the coast guard HQ, burned down. I could only go up to the frost landing due to the fact it's a working light. I bet I took at least a hundred pictures. read more

Family vacation and son reserved our group a spot. The all volunteer group of at least three tour guides give 2 tours every tuesday and thursday. They are extremely knowledgeable of the lighthouse itself, the immediate area, and the extended area historical spots and just overall were so informative. We got there as requested 15min prior to tour, signed up with a waiver, listened to the safety speech then went inside and climbed the first "ship ladder"(its not really a ladder but not stairs either). Our lady guide was so helpful in telling us what to do and not do and boy did she know what she was talking about. She said "dont look up and dont look down when you're climbing. Lood straight ahead with both hands on the railing and you'll do fine". On the second landing we got a short interactive lecture on the lighthouse workings including the lights and what they mean and exactly how they work. She also discussed the structure and how it was built and why it was built that way. THe lighthouse is a silo and without angle. 8 inch thick concrete and certain portions have pigments so the locals never have to worry about their tax dollars going for painting the lighthouse. We then climbed the next 7 levels with 17 steps each level to reach the top. It really wasn't as bad as i had thought it would be physically. going out the door to the open area at the top about made my heart stop. The male tour guide at the door saw my expression and started talking to me about the sights out fairly far away. I finally let go of the door and stepped out onto the landing (but still holding on with both hands) and leaned up against the lighthouse. He kept talking to me and said im trying to get you to look at the horizon so you wont be so afraid. I listened to him until i calmed some and he then talked with me and some of my family about things we were doing while at Oak Island. By the time we needed to head down, he had given us things to do the rest of the trip AND i was only holding on with one hand. The climb is very worthwhile. You learn a lot. At the top they show you the historical landmarks and then how to get there from the ground. They do not charge a fee but graciously accept donations. You can buy a t-shirt at the bottom after your climb that says "I climbed the Oak Island Lighthouse". Yes, I have one now! Go to their website and make your reservation and make this a must do at least once!!! free parking and bottled water on site (dasani for $1). All volunteer workers and all profits go right back into the lighthouse. Again, very worthwhile. read more