So far, bidding is only up to $16,000 for the historic 68-foot-tall structure in Lake Superior
If you’ve always dreamed of cozying up inside your own beautiful lighthouse on the water, far from the hustle and bustle of daily life, now’s your chance: A 68-foot-tall structure in Lake Superior is for sale, with a starting bid of just $10,000.
The lighthouse—called the Keweenaw Waterway Lower Entrance Light or the Portage Lake Lower Entry Light—is situated within Keweenaw Bay, a southern arm of Lake Superior, southeast of Chassell, Michigan.
Built in 1919-20, the lighthouse emits a white flash every six seconds. It marks the southern end of the Portage River as it flows into the bay and is attached to an Army Corps of Engineers breakwater. Supported by a concrete pier and a timber crib foundation, it consists of a machine room and a three-story octagonal tower. Inside, it measures about 1,000 square feet.
The Keweenaw lighthouse is one of four currently offered for sale by the General Services Administration (GSA), along with two in Connecticut and one in Ohio. The government is also giving away several other lighthouses for free to certain kinds of nonprofits and other groups.
Bidding opened August 1 and is up to $16,000 so far. The auction does not have an end date, but potential buyers will likely have two to six weeks to make their best offer.
Whoever ultimately submits the winning bid, however, will face some strict limitations on what they can do to the property, since it’s listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Even so, for the right person—with deep enough pockets—it could be the opportunity of a lifetime. Lighthouse owners often spend thousands of dollars on upkeep and maintenance, per the Detroit Free Press’ Frank Witsil.
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