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Things to Do:
Crooked River Lighthouse:
History: The Crooked River Lighthouse was built
in 1895 to replace the Dog Island lighthouse that
was destroyed in a hurricane in 1873. The Crooked
River Lighthouse is
a 103-foot cast iron
skeletal tower with
138 steps from the
ground to the lantern
room. The lighthouse
was decommissioned
by the
U.S. Coast Guard
in 1995. Although
the structure was
listed on the National
Register of Historic
Places, the Coast
Guard planned to
surplus the lighthouse
and auction it off to
the highest bidder.
The Carrabelle Lighthouse
Association
was formed in 1999
to preserve and restore
the lighthouse.
Assistance from the
Florida Lighthouse
Association and
the Florida Communities Trust, and appropriations
from the Florida legislature have made it possible to
restore the lighthouse tower and to create a visitors
park at the site. On December 8, 2007, the Fresnel
lens replica in the lantern room was lit in a public
dedication ceremony. The CLA and the City of Carrabelle
are in the process of building a replica of the
Light Keeper’s House to be located in the park. The
structure will include a museum featuring lighthouse
artifacts and period furnishings.
Directions: The lighthouse is located at 1975 Hwy
98 West, approximately 2 miles west of downtown
Carrabelle. Watch for a Historical Marker sign and
Barb Revell Lane, on the north side of the highway.
Amenities: The lighthouse grounds contain a covered
picnic pavilion, playground equipment that includes
a 70 ft replica of a pirate ship, the Carrabella,
and a wooded conservation site. Construction of a
Keeper’s House is expected to be completed in early
2009. The Keeper’s House will include a museum,
gift shop, and meeting space. Please access the
website listed below to determine open status of the
lighthouse.
Hours: The park is open dawn to dusk.
Contact:
Carrabelle Area Chamber of Commerce
850-697-2585
Website: www.crookedriverlighthouse.com
Email: sea_lght@yahoo.com
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