New England Lighthouses: A Virtual Guide

Wood Island Light

Biddeford Pool, Maine

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© Jeremy D'Entremont

Location: About 2 miles east of the mouth of the Saco River

Nearest community: Biddeford Pool (a village of Biddeford)

43 27 25 N
70 19 45 W

MapQuest Link

Accessibility: Wood Island can be reached by boat only. The island and lighthouse can be seen distantly from a walking trail; see below.

The island and lighthouse are not open to the public, except through tours run by the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse. See below.

Station established: 1808; Present lighthouse built: 1839; Automated: 1986

Construction material: Stone. Height of tower: 47 feet; Height of focal plane: 71 feet

Other buildings still standing: 1858 keeper's house, 1903 oil house, storage building

Active U.S. Coast Guard aid to navigation, licensed to:

Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse
(a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation)
P. O. Box 26
Biddeford Pool, ME 04006
Email: Brad@woodislandlighthouse.org

Earlier optic: Fourth-order Fresnel (1858); Present optic: VRB-25

Characteristic: Alternating white and green flashes every 10 seconds.

Fog signal: Two blasts every 30 seconds

The Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse offer tours of Wood Island Light Station. 2007 trips begin on June 30.

The Light Runner departs Vines Landing in Biddeford Pool at 4:30 and 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and 1:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays, in season. The trip and tour take about 90 minutes. There is no cost but donations (suggested minimum $10/person) are appreciated. Call 207-286-3229 for reservations.

The boat takes 17-18 adults. The trips are first come, first served. FOWIL members receive priority until 15 minutes before boarding. Extra trips for groups are possible depending on availability of boat and crew;

Click here for more information

gate to Audubon sanctuary
The gate to the trail along the shore at East Point Audubon Sanctuary.
 
Wood Island Light can be seen from the walking trail at the East Point Audubon Sanctuary; it's approximately a 15 minute walk from the gate to the view of the island.

Directions to trail:

Take Route 9/208 (Pool Road) south from Biddeford for five miles, turning left on 208 toward Biddeford Pool. After 0.6 miles, turn left at the T intersection, then bear right through two forks to Lester B. Orcutt Boulevard, following it to the point. The gate entrance is on the left side. Parking is permitted along the street.

Related sites

Chart of Biddeford Pool and Wood Island Harbor

Maine Audubon Society

Maine.info: Resources for Maine Travel & Living

Previous Lighthouse (north to south): Goat Island Light

Next Lighthouse (north to south): Cape Elizabeth Light

Click here to buy the book "Lighthouse Legends and Hauntings" by William O. Thomson

Click for Biddeford, Maine Forecast

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