11-05-2025
NC officials at Outer Banks seek info about ‘forcible entry' of Bodie Island Lighthouse
NAGS HEAD, N.C. (WNCN) — Officials at the Outer Banks are trying to determine who broke into a well-known lighthouse last week.
The incident in which someone 'forcibly entered' the Bodie Island Lighthouse is being investigated by law enforcement rangers, according to the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
The break-in happened sometime Monday night, May 5, into Tuesday morning of May 6, a news release from the National Park Service said.
Officials did not say if there was any damage involved in the 'forcible entry.' The Bodie Island Lighthouse is more popular this year because the iconic Cape Hatteras Lighthouse is closed for restoration efforts until 2026.
The Bodie Island Lighthouse has just over 200 steps from the ground to the top, equal to climbing a 10-story building. It is open seasonally for self-guided climbs.
Authorities said anyone with information about the 'unauthorized nighttime entry' should contact the National Park Service's Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at 888-653-0009.
There is no entry fee for Cape Hatteras National Seashore but tickets — set for a specific time — for the Bodie Island Lighthouse climb are $10 for adults with half-price discounts for children and seniors.
The Bodie Island Lighthouse opened in 1872 — after Union troops blew up an earlier version to keep it from Confederate forces. It was electrified in 1932
The Ocracoke Lighthouse, in Ocracoke Village at the southern end of Cape Hatteras National Seashore, is not available for climbing.
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