Private Tour: The Cape Lookout Lighthouse

Start Times

The start time is generally 10:00am.

We offer a military discount to those who qualify (ID required at check-in).

Duration

5-5.5 Hours

About

Cape Lookout, the southern tip of the Outer Banks, is a natural barrier island on the Atlantic coast of North Carolina, located east of the Southern Outer Banks. There are no wild horses at Cape Lookout.

Authorized in 1804, the light station at Cape Lookout sits on four acres of land purchased from Joseph Fulford and Elijah Piggot. The original lighthouse, built in 1812, stood at 96 feet but proved too short for mariners navigating the hazardous Diamond Shoals. The current lighthouse, a 163-foot red brick tower, was constructed to replace the initial structure and was first lit on November 1, 1859. It features a spiral iron staircase and a first-order Fresnel lens, which projects a fixed light visible up to 18 miles in good weather. Although automated in 1950 and now using LEDs visible for 12 miles, the lighthouse retains its unique daymark with black diamonds oriented north-south and white diamonds east-west.

On May 20, 1861, North Carolina joined the Confederacy, and lenses from coastal lighthouses were removed to hinder Union navigation. Despite an attempt by Confederate troops in 1864 to destroy the Cape Lookout Lighthouse, it survived with some damage. The original Fresnel lenses, found in Raleigh in 1865, were restored post-war. In recent years, safety concerns have led to the lighthouse being closed to the public for climbing, with the earliest reopening projected for 2027. However, the Cape Lookout Lighthouse Keepers Quarters Museum remains open, offering free entry. A short walk on the boardwalk will bring you to toilet facilities, along with the National Park Service Gift Shop.

North Carolina boasts seven coastal lighthouses, spanning from the Outer Banks to the Brunswick Islands: Currituck, Bodie Island, Hatteras, Ocracoke, Cape Lookout, Oak Island, and Bald Head Island. Unlike the others, Cape Lookout is inaccessible by car. H2O Captain Eco-Tour Private Boat Excursions, an authorized National Park Service permittee, is the recognized and reliable boat charter service to visit this iconic lighthouse.

Take your family on an adventure to explore all seven lighthouses and discover the rich maritime history of North Carolina!