2011-05-26

Date: May 27, 2011
Contact: Wouter Ketel, 252-728-2250

 Cape Lookout Lighthouse Opens 
 For Public Climbing May 26, 2011

 Harkers Island, North Carolina – The National Park Service is pleased to announce that the Cape Lookout Lighthouse opened to the public for regular climbing on May 26, 2011. The lighthouse will be open three days per week – Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through September 24 of 2011.

Lighthouse Climbing Hours: The lighthouse will be open for climbing on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Climbs will begin every 15 minutes from 10:00 am until 3:30 pm with a limit of 10 people per tour.  Please note: The lighthouse may close at any time if conditions (i.e. temperature/humidity, lightning or high winds) are determined to be unsafe.

The seashore will announce on Twitter (www.twitter.com/CapeLookoutNPS) – when lighthouse tickets are sold out for the day and when weather related closures occur.

Tickets are required.

Prices for Tickets:  $8.00 for Adults. $4.00 for children (12 years and under and at least 44 inches tall), senior citizens (62 years and older), and those holding a National Parks and Federal Recreation Lands Access Pass. Please Note: Lighthouse climb ticket prices do not include the cost of ferry transportation.  For more information on ferry services please contact the ferry companies directly.

Advance Reservations: Tickets may be reserved for climbing from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm, Tuesday through Friday by calling [phone]. Reservations can be made for dates within the same week only and must be made at least one day in advance.

In order to accommodate a diversity of groups, only 5 tickets may be reserved per person.

Reserved tickets must be picked up and purchased from the Light Station Visitor Center at least 30 minutes before the time of the climb.  Failure to do so will result in the reservation being forfeited and the tickets being released for sale to "standby" visitors. Please make sure to allow enough lead time before your climb for the boat or ferry trip to the island.

Where to Purchase Tickets:  Tickets for climbs may be purchased from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, Thursday through Saturday, at the Light Station Visitor Center. Each ticket is good only for the date and time stamped on the ticket. Ticket holders should arrive at the lighthouse base at least 5 minutes before their scheduled climb.

Warning:  The climb to the top is strenuous.  It may be hot, humid, noisy and dim inside the lighthouse. Climbing the 207 steps to the gallery is roughly equal to climbing a 12-story building. The stairs are narrow and groups going up will share the stairs with groups returning to the bottom.

Visitors with heart, respiratory, or other medical conditions -- or those who have trouble climbing stairs -- should probably not attempt the climb.  Visitors who do not wish to climb can view the four outdoor "View from the Top" exhibits located near the lighthouse Keepers' Quarters and the panorama located in the Keepers' Quarters Museum.

Safety Guidelines: Children must be at least 44 inches tall to climb the lighthouse due to the often strong winds at the top that can knock children off their feet. Climbers under 16 years old must be accompanied by an adult. To keep hands free for handrails, no person may be lifted or carried and food, drinks, and bulky personal items (e.g. backpacks, tripods) should be left outside the lighthouse.  Shoes are required; heels should be less than 1½ inches.