Century-old lighthouse was long out of commission — but now you can own it. Peek inside
When one passes a lighthouse, they might envision waves crashing on rocks or a boat trying to find its way through nighttime fog. But what about it being a permanent residence?
That’s the case, with this particular lighthouse that’s move-in ready right off the coast of Reedville, Virginia, for $450,000.
“Rare opportunity to own a piece of Chesapeake Bay History! Built in 1897, Smith Point Lighthouse is just 2.5 miles off the shore of Reedville, VA at the mouth of the Potomac River and near the entrance to the Little Wicomico,” the listing on Realtor.com says.
“Incredible 360 degree views of the Bay and the absolute best place to watch all manner of watercraft floating by.”
The four-bedroom, one-bathroom house is currently being used as a vacation home and had undergone a three-year renovation, which included updating the kitchen, the listing notes.
But no owners won’t have to worry about working the lighthouse in order to guide ships to shore.
“A lot of these are shells,” listing agent Beth Groner told Realtor.com when speaking about other lighthouses. “They’ve been left sitting around for up to 20 years with no roof or broken windows, and there’s tons of water damage. With this particular listing, it’s literally livable. [The sellers] created a space where someone can be in the bay and enjoy—the most unique opportunity you can think of.”
Features of the 1,500-square-foot-home, per the listing, include:
Living area
Dining area
Full bath with shower
Generator
Water heater
“250 gallon capacity plumbing system”
“550 gallon water tank”
Basement
“Marvin hurricane rated windows, insulation & a new roof were installed during the restoration. All furniture, 2 window AC units & 2 heaters convey as well as crab pots, tools, tackle, & household items. Sale is as is,” the listing notes.
The home is listed on the National Historic Registry. It went automated in 1971, which means the lighthouse “has been changed to operate without the aid of a keeper,” according to a lighthouse glossary of terms.
This story was originally published May 8, 2024 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Century-old lighthouse was long out of commission — but now you can own it. Peek inside."