Port Austin Reef Lighthouse Association

Port Austin Reef Lighthouse Association Port Austin Reef Lighthouse It is still operational and acts as an automated beacon to this day.
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The Port Austin Reef Light is located in Lake Huron approximately 2½ miles north of the Port Austin Harbor and Port Austin, Michigan. Latitude N 44 deg 04.893 min
Longitude W 082 deg 58.941 min

The station was established and first lit in 1878 and after a devastating fire, modified in 1899. It is currently owned by the Port Austin Reef Light Association who are in the midst of a full restoration

with the goal of offering a lighthouse keeper program. In 1990, the Port Austin Reef Light Association engaged in a "heroic effort" to begin restoring the lighthouse which included relocating a colony of seagulls that had taken over the decrepit building. The restoration project has consisted of a massive organic clean-up; installing new windows; replacing and painting the protective chain railing; re-building the brick chimney, re-building the roof structure; and shingling with a historically accurate bright red paint. Low water levels, funding limitation, strict renovation regulations, and completion of an Historic Structure's Report in 2013 have provided a road map to full renovation and utilization of the Lighthouse to tourists in the coming years. Official title was transferred to the Association by the USCG and GSA on June 30, 2013. Please keep checking back on how to sign-up and support this important part of Michigan's history.

Looking for Volunteers!!The lighthouse restoration is done, but there are still a few odds and ends to work on in the ne...
06/20/2026

Looking for Volunteers!!

The lighthouse restoration is done, but there are still a few odds and ends to work on in the next two weeks.

Specifically, these tasks include:
Sweeping
Vacuuming
Dusting
Cleaning windows
Also, painting some trim
and installing some hardware, etc.

We are hoping to get some volunteers for some of these jobs this Saturday (tomorrow) - or the morning of Sat., June 27. (Or maybe even some random times?)

BTW - this volunteer gig includes a round trip boat ride to the light…and a “sneak peak” at all the things that have been done over the past three summers! (So YOU will get a brief tour before we even start tours on July 11th!) 😊

Leave a note in the comments if you can help out or send an email to [email protected]!

We are also looking for docents to lead Saturday tours in July and August. We will provide training for that soon. Leave a message if interested, and we will send you additional information.

HELP KEEP THE LIGHT SHINING!!

We wish to thank America250MI! Our free July tours are fully booked! We have plenty of openings in August through Labo...
06/11/2026

We wish to thank America250MI! Our free July tours are fully booked! We have plenty of openings in August through Labor Day weekend. Tours are held on Saturdays at 10am, 11am, Noon, 1pm and 2pm. You can sign up for a tour via our website: https://www.portaustinreeflight.org/

Many people have been asking why we don't offer tours on weekdays. We are a small all volunteer organization and our boat captains and board members all have full time jobs during the week. The lighthouse is located 2.5 miles from shore.

Thank you for all your support and interest! If you have any questions, please send us an email at [email protected].

06/11/2026

On Friday, July 3, 2026, the Port Austin Reef Light Association will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the completion of a three-year restoration project at the Port Austin Reef Lighthouse in Lake Huron.

According to Association officials, the goal of the project was to return the interior and exterior of the historic structure to their original appearance. In addition, for the first time since the 1940s, the off-shore light has begun displaying a historically-accurate red-white light at night.

While the ribbon-cutting event is invitation-only, the Port Austin Reef Light will be open for public tours beginning July 11, 2026. They will be offered, weather permitting, on Saturdays at 10:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., Noon, 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. ET through Labor Day weekend.

Tours depart from the State Dock in Port Austin, Mich. and are free, due to an America250MI grant, during the month of July. During August, the cost is $65 per person. Space is limited to six visitors per tour. For safety reason, children must be over the age of 12.

To make a reservation and purchase tickets, click on the link below.

https://trytn.com/en/PortAustinReefLight/details/c1acc878-f36b-4466-a493-c8db7c6eb397?typeOfProduct=Activity

Looking to the future, the next major undertaking for the Port Austin Reef Light Association will be starting an offshore keeper program at the lighthouse. Since the site has its own water system, officials hope to begin the program in the summer of 2027.

Information Source:
https://www.michigansthumb.com/news/article/port-austin-lighthouse-restoration-22285930.php

Image: The Port Austin Reef Lighthouse on Lake Huron during restoration work in September 2024 (Source: Port Austin Reef Light Association).

The beauty of our new solar powered lights at night.
06/05/2026

The beauty of our new solar powered lights at night.

The three bedrooms in the lighthouse were sanded today. The floors of these three rooms were exposed to the elements for...
06/04/2026

The three bedrooms in the lighthouse were sanded today. The floors of these three rooms were exposed to the elements for decades. No windows. Filled with inches upon inches of bird p**p and carcasses. Yet the sanding by Buck Benkelman today revealed the beauty of the virgin hardwoods of the 1890s. He will be back tomorrow to finish and then we are going to just finish them with linseed oil. The beauty of history will be visible now for decades to come.

She is looking beautiful tonight.
05/25/2026

She is looking beautiful tonight.

Thank you WLEW for broadcasting live from the lighthouse last night! Josh confirmed that the first international radio ...
05/24/2026

Thank you WLEW for broadcasting live from the lighthouse last night! Josh confirmed that the first international radio broadcast to be held at an offshore lighthouse was acknowledged by all four corners of the US, Canada and Europe!

Address

8265 N Van Dyke Road
Port Austin, MI
48467

Telephone

+19897680300

Website

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