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Frequently Asked Questions Q: Does the lighthouse operate like a typical hotel or bed & breakfast? Sorry but NO - The lighthouse is not hotel nor B&B type operation where you can arrive or depart any time you wish- we must follow very strict check-in/out times. Our Lighthouse is actually our private home that we offered to the public for your enjoyment through our Overnight Keepers Educational Program. The program was developed to encourage guests to experience the life of our brave lighthouse keepers who lived in and maintained the Light from 1881 through 1963. As our overnight "Honorary Light Keepers," you will gain the knowledge and one-of-kind experience of living in a historic 139 year-old working Lighthouse tower! Q: Are bed linens included and is there a housekeeping/cleaning fee? As part of your volunteer Light Keeper duties, we ask that you assist bring the lighthouse back to the same cleaned condition you found it upon check-in. This simply means, washing your dishes, stripping and remaking your bed, light vacuuming and general cleaning as to return the Light to its original condition. We supply your bed linens, blankets, hand towels, cleaning supplies, etc. If you are NOT the domestic enginnering type, and prefer to pay for the housekeeping, you can opt to purchase the $75 cleaning fee during the reservation process. However, we prefer our Keepers volunteer to bring the Light back to the original clean condition and save the fee. (Use it towards your food & beverages!) *** Due to the Covid-19, we are striving to keep the Light as clean and sanitized as possible. If you feel you'd prefer to bring your own linens, pillows, or kitchenware we are fine with those precautions. Q: How much electricity does the lighthouse have, and can we charge our cell phones/tablets? A: The lighthouse is completely "OFF the GRID" - no outside electricity, running water, wi-fi, cable, etc. We are strictly powered by a bank of 5 solar panels and heavy-duty batteries. We have a large inverter that converts the battery power into normal 110V electricity. There is normally enough power to power our lights, fridge, TV and charge cell phones, and we strictly ask for your cooperation in conserving the electricity and water during your stay. YES, we can also power portable CPAP machines. (There is not enough power to operate high wattage items such as hair dryers, fans, flat irons or extended use of the microwave.) Q: Is food service available and if not, what kitchen items are available cooking? A: Your stay is totally BYFB- "Bring Your Food and Beverages." Most guests bring food that can be grilled on our outdoor gas grill (propane included) or cooked/warmed on our 4 burner gas stove & oven. The kitchen is also equipped with a small, dorm-sized refrigerator, microwave, K-Cup coffee maker, a stove-top percolator, stove & oven, bottled drinking water. We also provide plates, mugs, glasses, wine glasses, cookware, steak knives, eating & cooking utensils, and various spices/seasonings. We also offer free K-cups, sweeteners and ground coffee. We also provide paper goods like paper towels, napkins, toilet tissue, etc. *Food option: The local area features several excellent restaurants to order take-out foods and bring out to the Light instead of cooking. The Cove Restaurant, Tipsy Toboggan, Pier 52 & Sagres restaurants as well as pizza chains are within 5 minutes of the Marina. No... unfortunately they do not offer delivery service out to the Lighthouse- LOL! Q: Is there fresh drinking water? Being offshore and totally off the grid, we of course have no running water or plumbing services. However, we do offer fresh clean water from our sink via a battery operated pump system for washing, cooking, doing dishes, etc. We also include plenty of fresh bottled water for drinking. Sadly, since we do not have city water service out to the Light, we do not have a shower available. There are hot showers available at the Marina's clubhouse if desired. (May-Oct. only) Q: Are other people allowed to visit the lighthouse during our stay? Due to liability reasons, Keepers are not allowed to invite anyone on the lighthouse at anytime during their stay. However, for milestones such as birthdays, anniversaries, etc. and only by ADVANCED REQUEST, up to 10 guests will be allowed to join you for your special occasion at an additional fee.** We will provide free boat service for your guests at check-in and one return trip back to marina no later than 9 PM. (one round trip) **Additional charge of $40. per invited guest will apply and all guests are required to sign a waiver of liability. Q: Does the lighthouse still have a working beacon and foghorn? The lighthouse is still a fully active USCG Aid to Navigation. The US Coast Guard operates our modern LED optic in the lantern room that automatically flashes every 2.5 seconds from dusk to dawn. In 2013, the foghorn was permanently removed. *Please be aware, our lighthouse stands proudly as a U.S. COAST GUARD AID TO NAVIGATION protecting the waters of beautiful Mount Hope Bay and as such, the Coast Guard has right of access to the lighthouse at any time during an emergency. Q: Is there WiFi or Cable TV? The lighthouse is purposely not equipped with WiFi or cable TV. The idea is to "UNPLUG" from the rest of the world and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Light. There is a 32" LCD TV w/DVD player with plenty of DVDs to choose from, as well as local network TV stations via HD antenna. We much prefer our guests relax in peace and solitude during their stay, away from the hustle & bustle of daily electronic life! (There is excellent cell phone signal in case you need to stay in touch with home or if there is an emergency.) Q: In case of an emergency, who do we call? A: If there is a medical emergency, use your cell phone to dial 911 (the lighthouse has excellent cell coverage). Fall River has top-notch police, rescue and fire officers through their Harbormaster. Also, call Kevin, your Lighthouse Keeper. If you witness a boat emergency on the nearby waters, also call 911 who will alert the Coast Guard. Q: How long does it take to get out to the Lighthouse? The Lighthouse is located only 1,500 feet offshore. We launch our complimentary boat service from the Borden Light Marina, 1 Ferry Street Fall River, MA via our 20 ft. boat, and the ride only takes 2-3 minutes. (weather-permitting) Please be aware, all Keepers must climb the vertical steel-rung ladder to access the Lighthouse. (see picture below left) Q: Can we swim or fish off the lighthouse? Swimming and fishing are not allowed. The light is located at the mouth of the Taunton River flowing into Mount Hope Bay. It's not uncommon for the currents at the lighthouse to exceed 7-10-kts. making it extremely dangerous to swim. Also, there are large rocks around the base of the lighthouse as well as boat traffic through the channel. Fishing is not allowed for safety and sanitary reasons. Q: Can we bring alcoholic beverages for our stay? A: Yes, guests are welcome to bring and enjoy alcoholic beverages. We request that no one smokes on the Lighthouse property due to fire logistics and historic preservation, as well the comfort of future guests. Q: Are we allowed to take pictures of the inside and access the lantern room? A: Our guests are welcome to take as many photos as they would like. Guests are also welcome to access the lantern room where the active light is located. (Sunsets and views are amazing from the lantern room) Q: Are we allowed to take our boat to the lighthouse? A: Boats are not allowed to be tied off at the lighthouse or anchored nearby during your stay. The lighthouse is located in a navigable channel and overnight anchoring is not allowed. If you prefer to arrive for your stay by your own boat, transient boat slips are available for rent at the Borden Light Marina- 508-678-7547. (must reserve slips in advance) Q: Does the lighthouse float or sway? A: The lighthouse rests firmly and permanently upon the bottom of the bay. It does not "rock" or "sway"around with the waves, like a dock or a boat. It is as solid as being on land. Yay! Q: What kind of bags should we use and can we bring a small cooler? A: You're more than welcome to bring a small cooler. You must bring your own ice if desired. We do not advise using the traditional, hard sided cooler with side handles. Soft-sided coolers are best- as we will need to carry it up the red ladder you see pictured bottom left . For clothes, back packs, beach style bags with long handles and small overnight bags work best. Multiple smaller bags are preferred over fewer heavier bags. Saves our backs! Q: Is the power plant behind the lighthouse finally gone? A: The Brayton Point Power Plant, once seen off the west side of the Light, was decommissioned in May 2017. The plant was coal fired and the cooling towers were added in 2010 to eliminate hot water from entering the bay and damaging the ecosystem. We are pleased to report the decommissioned power plant and towers were imploded and removed in 2019. Q: Are we allowed to check-in/check-out at times other than the 5pm and 12 noon established times? A:. Due to the operational logistics of the lighthouse, we strongly ask our Keepers honor the established times, however, with advanced request, we are willing to accommodate changes due to schedules for flight times, travel delays and family emergencies. Q: Is the Lighthouse haunted? A: After decades of rumor, we have had professional mediums and ghost hunters visit the lighthouse and we are happy to report the presence of two extremely friendly spirits. The experts have labeled our spirits as "benign," meaning they do not scare, haunt, spook or show themselves. We have had a few reports where guests heard music, footsteps or laughter, but unfortunately, this is extremely rare. Many of our guests hope to experience some presence during their stay, but sadly, 99.9% do not. Our main spirit is that of our former Light Keeper Captain John H. Paul, and the experts claim he remains as our "protector" - keeping our guests and Lighthouse safe from harm. We graciously thank you John Paul! |
Accessing the lighthouse requires climbing this steel rung ladder. The picture represents the ladder at low tide. Depending on tide, it can range from 3-8 rungs.
