Creepiest Lighthouses of the East Coast

October 13, 2025

Keepers never really leave.

Fog presses in, the sea pulls at the rocks, and a lone light swings across the water. The East Coast has always depended on its lighthouses — they warned sailors away from danger, even as they watched tragedies unfold. Maybe that’s why so many feel… unsettled. Step inside, and you’ll understand why people say some keepers never really left.

Wood Island Lighthouse — Biddeford, Maine

Wood Island’s beauty hides a darker past. In 1896, tenant Howard Hobbs shot local game warden Frederick Milliken before turning the rifle on himself. Visitors say the violence left a mark: footsteps echo on the stairs, screams carry across the water, and a shadowy figure is sometimes seen pacing the tower windows.

While you’re there: Stay in nearby Biddeford or Kennebunkport, and stop for a lobster roll at The Lobster Shack at Two Lights.

New London Ledge Light — New London, Connecticut

This red-brick lighthouse sits isolated on a breakwater at the mouth of the Thames River. Its ghost is “Ernie,” a heartbroken keeper who, legend says, threw himself into the sea. Coast Guard crews once stationed here reported slamming doors, radios flicking on, and footsteps crossing empty halls.

While you’re there: Overnight in Mystic at the Whaler’s Inn, then warm up with chowder at S&P Oyster before booking a boat ride that passes right by the lighthouse.

Execution Rocks Lighthouse — Long Island Sound, New York

The name alone raises goosebumps. Local lore says British soldiers chained prisoners to the rocks at low tide, leaving them to drown. The darkness lingers: in the early 1900s, serial killer Carl Panzram claimed to have dumped 21 bodies nearby. Today, visitors and investigators report screams over the waves, cold drafts inside, and shadowy figures moving where no one should be.

While you’re there: Make it a North Shore getaway — sip wine at Del Vino Vineyards or stay at the Danfords Hotel & Marina in nearby Port Jefferson.

Ocracoke Lighthouse — Ocracoke, North Carolina

The quietest of the Outer Banks lighthouses carries one of its most infamous legends. In 1718, Blackbeard the pirate was cornered and killed just offshore, his head displayed in Hampton Roads as a warning. Locals say he still roams the waters near Ocracoke, his ghostly lantern flickering across the sound on dark nights.

While you’re there: Book a room at the Ocracoke Harbor Inn, then settle in for shrimp and grits at Howard’s Pub.

St. Augustine Lighthouse — St. Augustine, Florida

The St. Augustine Lighthouse is known for the tragic 1873 drowning of sisters Lila and Mary Pittee, whose laughter and footsteps are still heard in the tower. Staff speak of shoelaces tied on their own, lights switching on and off, and doors left ajar at the top of the stairs. Guests have even spotted a little girl in Victorian dress near the benches, watching quietly before fading away.

While you’re there: Stay in the historic district at the St. George Inn, and after the “Dark of the Moon” ghost tour, grab late-night tapas and sangria at Columbia Restaurant.

If You Go:

• Stay curious. Ask a guide for their favorite story — most will have one they only tell when the lights go low.
• Expect creaks and shadows. Even if you don’t believe in ghosts, the history alone will leave you with chills.
• Check tour hours. Many lighthouses are seasonal and close once winter weather sets in.