A Stay to Remember
Lighthouses have long inspired fascination, but getting to sleep in one is a special treat. Staying in this one in Southeast Alaska ups the ante by offering a wonderfully unique way to see wildlife and explore a tranquil island, a five-minute water taxi ride from Sitka.
A Labor of Love, and a 24-7 Beacon
The lighthouse was first built in 1983—a labor of love by Burgess Bauder, a local veterinarian with an incredible talent for building and design, who spent 18 months hulling the wood and constructing the lighthouse by himself, on the high point of a one-acre private island. With its red light on top, the lighthouse was registered with the Coast Guard and still acts as a navigational beacon.
Since its inception, the lighthouse has also functioned as a vacation rental and was recently bought by new owners Teal and Mike ‚who have known Bauder for years. They have given it a fresh update—debuting for the 2018 summer season—and continue offering it for vacation rentals as well as weddings, honeymoons, and business retreats.
Indeed, this makes a great place for everyone to focus on discussions while bonding over the spectacular scenery for a small business retreat. If you want to have a wedding here, you can’t do better for an “aisle” than the catwalk that extends off one of the decks, which leads out to a point with a circular deck, with the waves crashing up all around.