Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Now Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Date: May 1, 2006
Contact: Outer Banks Group, [phone]

Starting Monday, May 1, 2006 climbing hours for the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse will be 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily with the last tour beginning at 4:40 p.m. Due to complications with staff hiring, the lighthouse had been operating on reduced hours since opening on April 14. The lighthouse will remain open through Columbus Day, Oct. 9.

A ticket is required for a climbing tour. Climbing tour tickets are $6 for adults and $3 for senior citizens (62 or older), children (12 and under), and those holding Golden Access passes. Tickets are available on a first come/first served basis and can only be purchased in-person at the site on the day of the climb. There are no advance public ticket sales.

Starting May 1, ticket sales will begin at 8:15 a.m. Climbing tours will begin at 9 a.m. and will run every 10 minutes with a limit of 30 visitors per tour until the last tour at 4:40 p.m. Ticket holders should arrive at the lighthouse gate five minutes prior to their ticketed tour time.

Climbing the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is equal to climbing a 12-story building and can be strenuous. It may be humid, warm, and dim inside the lighthouse as there is no air conditioning or electricity in the structure. Visitors with heart and other medical conditions, and visitors with crutches, walkers and canes (excluding ”white canes”), should use their own discretion as to whether to climb the tower.

The following safety rules apply to all visitors climbing the lighthouse: · Children must be at least 42” tall. · Children must be capable of climbing all steps on their own. · No person may be lifted or carried by any means while in the lighthouse. · Children under the age of 12 years old must be escorted by an adult. · The following items or actions are prohibited in the lighthouse: o Eating, drinking, smoking and chewing tobacco o Umbrellas or parasols o Bare feet and heels over 1.5 inches high o Large or heavy items such as beach bags, backpacks, tripods, surfboards, fishing poles, etc. o Running, jumping, or stomping on stairs and landings o Frisbees, boomerangs, and other equipment that may be thrown o Intentional throwing of objects o Only guide animals are allowed in the lighthouse; all other animals are prohibited

Climbing tours may be booked in advance for some school groups. School group tours can be scheduled by calling the Hatteras Island Visitor Center between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily at [phone]. Educational fee waiver requests must be submitted in advance to: Fee Manager, National Park Service, Outer Banks Group, 1401 National Park Drive, Manteo, NC 27954.