Over 150 years old: Historic Bodie Island Lighthouse opens for climbing this weekend
MANTEO, N.C. — The Bodie Island Lighthouse, recognized by its unique horizontal black and white stripes, will open for climbing this year beginning Friday, April 19.
Climbing tickets go on sale at 7 a.m. and may only be purchased on the same day of your intended climb. Tickets are only available for purchase here.
Cape Hatteras Lighthouse climbing opportunities will likely not be possible until the summer of 2026, due to restoration efforts.
History of Bodie Island Lighthouse: Over 150 years old, it's the third lighthouse on this exact site
Completed in 1872, the Bodie Island Lighthouse is actually the third at this general location – built after the first two were destroyed. Helping provide light for the Graveyard of the Atlantic, it was considered the part of the NC coast in most desperate need of a lighthouse.
The first lighthouse was far smaller, reaching only 57 feet tall in 1848. Within only two years, the foundation had begun to sink. A second lighthouse was built, but it was destroyed during the Civil War. Finally, the current day Bodie Lighthouse was built as the largest of the three, reaching an impressive 156 feet tall. To climb to the top, you'll have to circle up 214 stairs.
The Bodie Lighthouse is recognizable for its unique black and white rings.
You do not need a boat to reach Bodie Island Lighthouse
Address: 8210 Bodie Island Lighthouse Road, Nags Head, North Carolina 27959.
Learn about all of North Carolina's lighthouses
Some of the oldest lighthouses are over 200 years old, while the tallest NC lighthouse reaches higher than any other in America at 210 ft. tall – offering a sweeping vista of the ocean and islands surrounding North Carolina.
WRAL News has compiled history and information on how to visit each of North Carolina's iconic lighthouses.
