COLUMBUS, OH -- Work is set to begin on a $500,000 renovation and restoration to the buildings and grounds of Marblehead Lighthouse State Park in Ottawa County, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). The three-acre facility has closed and will be inaccessible to the public for the duration of the construction project. It will reopen in time for next summer's touring season.
The proposed construction not only involves interior and exterior improvements to the 180-year-old lighthouse tower, but also to the on-site keepers' house and the park's access drive and parking lot. Additional upgrades will include removal of overhead electric lines and other site enhancements to improve the visual appeal of the entire area.
We're excited this important renovation is underway at historic Marblehead Lighthouse, one of Ohio's most beloved state parks, said Dan West, chief of Ohio State Parks. Our goal is to complete the renovations during the colder months when visitation to the lighthouse is down and so we can be ready for the visiting public next summer.
Marblehead Lighthouse is the oldest lighthouse on the Great Lakes in continuous operation. ODNR has maintained the surrounding property since 1972 and accepted ownership of the actual lighthouse tower in 1998. The U.S. Coast Guard maintains the lighthouse beacon.
According to Ohio State Parks statistics, about 250,000 people visit Marblehead Lighthouse State Park annually - mostly during the summer months.
For Further Information Contact:
Scott Doty, Lake Erie Islands State Park
(419) 797-4530
-or-
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265-6860