New Lighthouse Auction Coming Up
By Sue Clark on Oct 15, 2008 in The Light Side 
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Frustrated by the high prices of decrepit lighthouses? Well, the GSA is getting ready to auction off a new one. Perhaps you can get your bid in on this one…the Frying Pan Light Tower near Southport, NC. This one only has a suggested minimum of $10,000, with bids in $3,000 equipment.
The light tower is a steel oil drilling platform, known as a Texas Tower, on top of four steel legs, that has been modified to be used as a lighthouse. It is located about 25 miles southeast Southport, NC and marks the shoals at the confluence of the Cape Fear River and the Atlantic Ocean. The eighty foot light tower was built in Louisiana and brought by barge to Frying Pan Shoals in 1966. Prior to the light tower, lightships had marked the shoals for approximately 100 years. The platform consists of two floors. The subfloor is a living area of approximately 5,000 square ft. that includes bedrooms, kitchen, office, storage area, recreation area and toilet facilities.
Hmm, not a bad deal for a steel tower. It’s only in the Coming Soon stage, but those of you who didn’t win any of the recent auctions might want to get out your checkbooks for this one. Rustic, but comfortable. Opening October 20.
Photo credit: Public domain photo from Coast Guard archives.
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