The Crooked River Lighthouse is a 103 foot skeletal tower with 138 steps from ground to the lantern room. It was built in 1895 to replace the Dog Island Lighthouse destroyed in a hurricane in 1873. The lighthouse was decommissioned by the Coast Guard in 1995. My previous visit was several years ago and the paint had faded badly and the location lacked scenic appeal. I forewarned Carol that this light was going to be a sad sight. We were both pleasantly surprised to see that the light had been restored to its original colors and beauty. The Carrabelle Lighthouse Association along with assistance from the Florida Lighthouse Association and the Florida Communities Trust with an appropriation from the Florida Legislature made it possible to not only restore the Lighthouse but to also build a replica of the Light Keepers Home. The Lighthouse is located at 1975 Highway 98 West, approximately 2 miles west of downtown Carrabelle. There are historical markers on the highway, but it is very easy to go by the single lane dirt road leading into the area as I did. I needed to reverse direction and then enter the grounds.
Future plans are for a museum to be located in the Keepers House with lighthouse artifacts and period furniture. The ground include a covered picnic pavilion and playground equipment that includes a 70 foot replica of a pirate ship, the Carrabella.
As you can see, it is a very pleasant location and Carol and I were able to chat with the person who will be setting up the museum. She came out on the porch to tell us about future plans even though the building was closed on weekdays. A future visit is planned and perhaps this will be our fourth tower that we will climb together.
No comments:
Post a Comment