Date: June 28, 2017
Contact: B.G. Horvat, 252-728-2250, ext. 3014
HARKERS ISLAND, NC – Cape Lookout National Seashore wishes everyone a fun and safe Fourth of July in 2017. In celebration of our nation’s freedom, the park will open the Cape Lookout Lighthouse to public climbing on Tuesday, July 4, 2017.
The lighthouse climbing days and hours of operation are Wednesdays through Sundays, 9:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. with ticket sales from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for senior citizens (62 or older) and children (11 and under). Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and can only be purchased in-person at the site. There are no advance ticket sales.
Climbing the lighthouse can be ‘strenuous’, as the climb is the equivalent to climbing a 12-story building. Children must be at least 44” tall and children 12 and under must be escorted by a person at least 16 years old.
The park’s protected natural barrier islands that consist of North Core Banks, South Core Banks, and Shackleford Banks are an amazing place to surf, fish, swim, and explore a landscape rich in Eastern Carolina history and culture with family and friends, including your dog. The park would like to remind visitors that dogs are allowed on the beaches of the park, but must be on a six-foot leash at all times. This ensures the safety of your pet, the safety of other visitors, and the protection of wildlife that calls the southern outer banks ‘home’.
Even though it is the 4th of July, please remember that fireworks, including sparklers, are prohibited in Cape Lookout National Seashore and in all national park units. Firecrackers, bottle-rockets, smoke bombs, and even sparklers can cause wildfires, as was the case just last year when a group of individuals drove along the beach lighting fireworks, which started multiple wildfires.
The staff and volunteers of Cape Lookout National Seashore wish you a happy 4th of July. Please keep safety in mind and enjoy your visit to Cape Lookout National Seashore. For more information, check the park website at www.nps.gov/calo.
