Federal Government To Auction Off Historic Maine Lighthouse

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed)
Aug 13th 2010 at 9:02PM

Want to really get away from it all? Ram Island Ledge lighthouse might be the ultimate hideout. The 72-foot-tall Ram Island Ledge Light, at the mouth of Portland Harbor, in Portland, Maine is being auctioned off by the federal government.

The 105-year-old lighthouse is a conical light tower in waters a mile off the southern Maine coast. The lighthouse sits on a small rocky ledge and has a dock. Once you land you have to climb a 30-foot ladder to get into the tower. The circular rooms are small and sparse but the tower offers incredible views. The lighthouse is now automated but for the first 54 years of its existence the building was manned by lighthouse keepers who stayed at his remote outpost for weeks at a time. Any buyer has to promise to preserve the structure and continue to allow it to function as a Coast Guard navigational aid with a light that flashes every six seconds and a horn that blares every 10 seconds. One bid of $10,000 has been made thus far.

An inspection for registered bidders is schedule for August 26, weather and seas permitting. To attend the inspection, you have to pay the bidder registration fee of $10,000 and be in good enough physical condition to climb the ladder to the lighthouse.

[via Bangor Daily News]

Tags: lighthouse, lighthouse for sale, maine lighthouse, ram island ledge lighthouse