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Florida Lighthouses

Crooked River
Panhandle Region

Crooked River

Carrabelle
Constructed 1895. First Lighted October 28, 1895. Deactivated May 24, 1994. On National Register Listing.
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At a Glance

Region
Panhandle Region
Type
Historic Lighthouse
Latitude
29.82725
Longitude
-84.70074

Crooked River Lighthouse

Carabelle


Photo: Stan Beckstrom

 

Active: No

Characteristics: Two-group flashing white, flashes every twelve and a half seconds.

Height: 103 feet, 138 steps

DayMark: Square, pyramidal, skeletal tower; lower half white; upper half dark red with a black lantern.

History: Constructed 1895. First Lighted October 28, 1895. Deactivated May 24, 1994. On National Register Listing.

Lens: Original: Fourth-order bivalve revolving lens; Henry-LePaute (1894). Present: None. Focal Plane: 115 feet.

Construction: Architect: unknown, Builder: Tacony Iron and Metal Company, Philadelphia, PA..  Steel skeletal tower constructed of cement and iron.

Visit Status: The Keeper's House Museum is open noon to 5:00pm Thursday through Sunday. The lighthouse is open for climbing every Saturday and Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm for $5.00.

Facilities: Children's playground with a 40 ft. pirate ship

Visitor Info: In 2000 The General Services Administration turned the lighthouse over to the city of Carrabelle to be restored and operated as a historical site by the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association. Access to the grounds is by a dirt road off US 98 two miles west of The Carrabelle River.

Contact:

Carrabelle Lighthouse Association
Lesley Cox
P.O. Box 373
Carrabelle, FL  32322

Email:  lighthouse2@fairpoint
Website:  www.CrookedRiverLighthouse.org/index.cfm

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Overview

The 103-foot Crooked River Lighthouse stands among tall pines west of Carrabelle. Its square skeletal framework is painted white on the lower half and deep red above, a daymark chosen to keep the tower visible against both forest and sky.

History

Three earlier lighthouses on nearby Dog Island were destroyed by storms. After years of delays, work on a safer mainland station began in 1895, and the new iron tower was completed that August. The lighthouse was electrified in 1933 and automated in 1952. The Coast Guard decommissioned it in 1995, just before its centennial. Ownership transferred to the City of Carrabelle in 2001, and the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association led a major restoration. The tower was relighted in 2007 with a replica fourth-order bivalve Fresnel lens.

Visiting & Access

The lighthouse is just off U.S. 98 west of Carrabelle Beach. The surrounding park is open to the public, and the keeper’s house museum and tower climbs follow posted hours. Closed-toe shoes and advance confirmation are recommended for climbing.

Current Status

The City of Carrabelle owns the lighthouse, and the Carrabelle Lighthouse Association manages the museum and visitor program. The restored tower operates as a private aid to navigation and is regularly open for public climbs.

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