Whether you go to experience the history of a building that’s been standing for one and a half centuries or the rumoured ghost stories, your stay at West Point Light House Inn on Prince Edward Island will surely be one to remember. Built in the late 19th century, the lighthouse was manned for over 80 years before it was converted into an inn and museum. Now owned and operated by a community organization, the historic property attracts tourists from across the globe.

From lighthouse to inn

Lighthouses are a navigation aid for sailors that warn oncoming ships of rocky shores and dangerous waters. Before joining Confederation, there were only eight lighthouses across Prince Edward Island. However, support from Parliament in the 1870s helped secure funding to build new lighthouses across the island. The lighthouse in West Point was the first to be built as part of this project in 1875.

The West Point Lighthouse only had two lightkeepers. William MacDonald was the first. He lived there with his family and worked every day for 50 years, without a single day off. MacDonald retired in 1925, and Benjamin (Bennie) MacIsaac took over until 1963 when the lighthouse was automated.

After the building sat vacant for about 20 years, in 1983, William MacDonald’s great-granddaughter formed the West Point Development Corporation to protect and restore the historic lighthouse. After years of development and restoration, the West Point Lighthouse was reopened in 1987 as an inn.

Extended stays 

Initially, the inn had a small chowder house, a museum and a couple of rooms for rent. The Development Corporation quickly saw the need for more accommodations, so in the late 1980s, it renovated to add a restaurant and bring the total number of rooms to six. In 2010, it was time to expand again. The restaurant was moved up the street, and accommodations grew to 13 rooms total, including the keeper’s quarters in the lighthouse tower.

Kendra Smith, manager of the inn, says it’s inspiring to see consistent growth in visits to the space over time. And she loves learning about the lighthouse’s history. “There’s so much history in this place, we’ll never truly know everything,” she commented.

In addition to the building’s past and its unique accommodations, some visitors are attracted to the inn because of its reputation for paranormal activity. Smith says they’ve been ranked as one of the top 10 haunted places in the country. “Some guests love all our ghost stories and others don’t want to hear about them until checkout time,” she commented.

There’s plenty of folklore about West Point, involving buried treasure, bones and sea serpents. Smith says she was a sceptic when she started working at the inn, but quickly became a believer. She’s heard footsteps and had doors open or close on their own. She also once found water running in the bathroom of room 13, despite the building being closed for the season with no running water.

Today, operations continue at the West Point Lighthouse Inn & Museum on Prince Edward Island. During its open season from May until October, tourists from across Canada, the US and beyond come to experience a unique stay at the haunted historic property.

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