Now is your chance if you’ve ever fantasized about living in a lighthouse. This unique property, located on its own island in the Chesapeake Bay, offers “a new perspective on adventure.” While Virginia is one of 14 states where you can rent a lighthouse, this is a rare opportunity for DC-area residents to own one. For $450,000 in cash, the historic lighthouse at 00 Smith Point in Reedville could be yours.
Built-in 1897, this lighthouse was purchased in late 2005 through an auction held by the U.S. General Services Administration in conjunction with the U.S. Coast Guard. It’s part of the National Historic Registry, and its lamp is maintained by the Coast Guard as an active aid to navigation. The property includes four bedrooms and one bathroom, spanning 1,500 square feet.
Current owner Dave McNally has spent about five years renovating the lighthouse, transforming it into a family vacation home. Traveling from Minnesota with a crew of three to eight people, McNally would haul materials across the water, working on the lighthouse for a week at a time. Despite the challenges, McNally, a self-described “adventurer,” has cherished every moment. “I don’t think you will ever appreciate adventures until you own a lighthouse,” he says. “It puts a whole new perspective on adventure.”
Listing agent Beth Groner notes that selling a lighthouse is far from typical and may take longer than usual listings. She envisions the ideal buyer as someone who gives back to causes they’re passionate about and sees the lighthouse as a cool passion project. This lighthouse stands out for its level of upkeep and unique financing: it’s not considered residential property, so owners pay no property taxes, and it cannot be insured, requiring a cash sale.
At 73, McNally feels it’s time to pass on the lighthouse to someone new. “It was quite a run,” he reflects. “I thoroughly enjoyed myself throughout the whole nine yards. I don’t have any regrets about what I did, how I did it, or who I did it with.”