West Point Lighthouse Inn

PEI’s Most Recognizable Lighthouse

A green glow led us in - on the last leg of our journey. Then the famous lady appeared all at once - Prince Edward Island’s tallest and most recognizable lighthouse - all 67 feet and 8 majestic inches of her. West Point Lighthouse stood proud and impressive in her iconic black & white stripes, even in the dark. My mother-in-law, Harriet, and I pulled our suitcases up to the front door, and local historian Carol Livingstone, a.k.a. Mrs. Lighthouse, excitedly greeted us. “You’re here! We were beginning to wonder if you got lost.” Once through the door, Scott Smith, General Manager & Lighthouse Innkeeper, smiled warmly from behind the reception desk and welcomed us to West Point Lighthouse Inn & Museum. We made it! Yes, we did take a wrong turn down a dirt road or two and our GPS failed us but West Point Lighthouse beckoned in the distance and we knew we’d be safe & sound. Harriet & I dropped our bags on the spot, when we entered. A tour of first floor lighthouse parlour museum was offered and Mrs. Lighthouse didn’t have to ask us twice. We were tired, and it was late, but I shook off the fatigue and didn’t hesitate to also follow Carol 70+ more steps straight up to see the beacon at the top. It was eerily mysterious and absolutely magnificent!

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Designated Heritage Place

We got the lay of the land - our keys and the breakfast details, and headed to bed in our room in the adjoining building. We had big plans for the next day and needed a rest. We soon discovered this 4-Star Inn and designated PEI heritage place is an ideal vacation destination. When I first awoke and stepped outside onto our private deck the next morning, I took a deep breath of sea air, and noticed a ship off in the distance. While I gazed in wonder at the striking beauty of the lighthouse towering to the left of me, something else caught my eye below. I glanced down just in time to see a fluffy red fox scamper by our deck, only to disappear into the tall dune grass. We were off to a good start. I couldn’t wait to see what the rest of the day would hold.

Mrs. Lighthouse

Mrs. Lighthouse joined us again, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as Harriet and I were finishing our breakfast, and sipping the rest of our coffee. I soon learned the history behind her title. Carol’s great-grandfather William MacDonald was a lighthouse keeper at West Point for 50 years. “The lighthouse was my nightlight,” Carol shared. “Electricity did not come to this part of the island until sometime in the late 50’s/early 60’s.” Carol also recalled Benny McIssac, a WWII veteran and father of 15. She, along with many other local youngsters, joined him nightly when he lit the oil lamp. “As we walked the stairs up and down he filled us to our eyebrows with ghost stories and we just loved it!”

Lighthouse Willie

Scott joined us and the two of them continued sharing a few ghost stories from guests’ experiences and from paranormal activity occurrences recorded. West Point Lighthouse is on Goggle’s Top 10 Spookiest Places in Canada. Lighthouse Willie, Carol’s Great Grandfather headlines most of them, but there are others - including a small boy, and a woman, too. Carol became a believer when she had a sensation of someone resting on her lap when she was sitting on her great-grandfather’s chair in the Keepers Quarters (which was simultaneously recorded by paranormal investigators at the time). Carol set me up for this story, hook, line & sinker, too, as I just happened to be sitting in the ‘haunted chair’ when she shared her experience. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up as she relived it for me. However, Carol quickly reassured me, Lighthouse Willie is a friendly ghost, as are the others around West Point.

West Point Legends

A phantom ship leads many tall tales around here, witnessed by hundreds in the Northumberland Straight just off these shores, I was told. Wait… I thought. I saw a ship this morning. No… it couldn’t be… could it? Well, as the story goes, a fully rigged ship, is often seen ablaze with crew jumping off to escape. Some have even heard the muted screams of the sailors. Another boat is often witnessed simultaneously heading to rescue them. Then, as suddenly as it appears, it all disappears, or so they say… A legend of a buried treasure abounds here, too. It is said that a repetitive dream led James Douglas Campbell to dig near the lighthouse, but nothing ever was found. Ghostly visions of a ship ablaze warned many treasure hunters ever since - not to bother, along with voiced warnings, and sinking sand for those that dare dig by the light of the moon, and there has even been some mysterious deaths (thought to be due to curses). There is also a story about a 60 - 80 foot long sea serpent swimming the waters near West Point. First told by Mi’kmaq to European settlers, but even as late as the summer of 1992, there were nine documented reports of people witnessing it. I made a note to simply stick to my daily beach combing activities and not bother going for a swim.

PEI Lighthouse History

Carol shared many lighthouse artifacts and memorabilia in the museum - one of the island’s most extensive and complete collections. She entertained us stories of West Point Lighthouse Keepers of the past and fascinating stories from other PEI lighthouses, too. She has researched and visited them all and has seen & heard it all from others sharing what they know. Carol is a walking encyclopedia of PEI lighthouse history. It was an honour to spend the day with her. Hearing about the science and technology of PEI's historic maritime beacons, in an active lighthouse by the great-granddaughter of Lighthouse Willie left me awestruck. Enjoy the video below to get a sense of what a day with Mrs. Lighthouse was like.

Preserving West Point Lighthouse

The West Point Lighthouse was built in 1875 and began operating in 1876 until the last Lighthouse Keeper retired in 1963. Electricity now runs the lantern. Dedicated Western PEI volunteers, including Carol, worked tirelessly in the 80’s to preserve West Point’s important lighthouse history and to create a community hub for viable employment for women in the area, and they did just that.

West Point Lighthouse Inn

The building that joined the lighthouse has been through many transformations over the years to become what it is today. Carol described the evolution from the humble sleeping quarters for family to the first kitchen and simple chowder room and 3 room Inn to what it is now - 11 rooms with breathtaking views and walkout decks, along with a reception area, a kitchen, an office, and a common living and dining area with a breakfast buffet offering every morning. The Keeper's Quarters and the Tower Room can be rented. They are located within the historic West Point Lighthouse & Museum, and are typically booked at least 6 months in advance. If you desire one of those rooms - book ahead. However, any room in the Annex also gives you the feeling of being somewhere special. I think the comfort and views are actually best in the attached inn versus staying in one of the two lighthouse rooms. The annex offers all the comforts of home with a view to boot, plus it is connected to the original lighthouse, so as they say… it’s all good! You can walk and beachcomb for days here. The beaches seem to go on forever in both directions. There are walking trails that are said to be made by fairies as they exist year after year, despite no one maintaining them. The Cedar Dunes Provincial Park, a marina, a seafood restaurant, an ice cream takeout and a craft shop are all within a short jaunt, too.

Stay at West Point Lighthouse Inn

Staying at West Point Lighthouse Inn is magical and mystical. It is also centrally located to explore all that PEI’s North Cape Coastal Drive has to offer. So I highly recommend you continue your exploration and Go Up West! There is so much to discover. We stayed for two nights and thoroughly enjoyed falling asleep and waking up to the sound of waves. The sunrises and sunsets were pretty special, too. Come stay at West Point Lighthouse Inn & Museum. There are lots of rooms! Step out onto your private deck and look up, look way up. Yes, that’s a lighthouse, and it is as enchanting as it sounds. And if you are brave enough - book ahead 6 months - to book a stay in Lighthouse Willie’s Room. Do you dare? He is said to be friendly, after all.

North Cape Coastal Drive

Stick around and venture more of the coast. Down-home hospitality, fresh seafood, and the best “dam burger” await you on the North Cape Coastal Drive. Witness where two waters collide over the longest natural rock reef in North America. Beautiful beaches, sweeping vistas, and unique attractions welcome you at every turn. Go Up West to enjoy music festivals, theatres, museums, and cultural centres. Go golfing, lobster fishing, or beachcombing. Stomp your feet to Island music and get “Shucked In.” While Up West, be sure to visit the alpaca farm and discover the colourful Bottle Houses. Take some time to play along the shore, too. I promise you will be glad you did. Don’t forget to tell everyone the Maritimes Maven sent you!

This post was sponsored by West Point Lighthouse Inn; however, all thoughts and opinions are my own. Follow Maritimes Maven on FaceBook, Instagram, Pinterest, Threads & LinkedIn. Be the first to receive my latest articles by clicking on the ‘subscribe’ link at the top of this page. PIease share articles you love with your social media community. There’s No Place Like Home!