In another case of “wow this has been here all along and I didn’t know about it” we visited the Spring Point Lighthouse. It is located at Fort Preble and adjacent to the campus of Southern Maine Community College, in South Portland Maine, the lighthouse is accessible to those who dare traverse the breakwater on which it is perched. The rocks are smooth and close enough to make the walk out to the lighthouse easy for most people. The day we visited was clear and calm. My daughter, fiancé, father and I walked the length of the breakwater to the lighthouse and checked it out. The view is amazing. Fort Georges and its pentagon fortress sits out in Casco Bay. Sailboats, birds, and ships filled the bay with activity. It was perfect.
The campus itself is nicely situated, with walking paths that lead you from the lighthouse area up the hill where you will discover the Fort and its bunker area. There are many open green spaces on the campus and therefore is ideal for events such as weddings. That’s the reason we happened upon the lighthouse, visiting the culinary events center of SMCC researching a place for our wedding. Several of the walking paths lead down to the water, or to small cliffs that overlook the beautiful Casco Bay.
The southeast side of the campus has a walkway that will lead you past the “Old Settler’s Cemetery” to an open grassy area that faces Casco Bay and Willard Beach. Just past the curve of the beach, Portland Headlight – perhaps the nation’s most photographed lighthouse – can be seen.
If you’re heading to the Spring Point Lighthouse, I suggest that you check a local events calendar. The day we visited, there was a dance festival going on that was just ending as we arrived. Had we known, we would have come earlier to enjoy it. It would have also been helpful in terms of finding parking near the lighthouse. Another idea would be to go to Willard Beach for a fun beach day and take a walk to check out the lighthouse. We noted that there were public facilities and a small snack bar on the beach. The water was calm and nearly waveless, as it is in a protected cove. Looked like a great place for kids.
An aside note: in an upcoming blog I will discuss our search for a wedding spot and provide more details about the events center at SMCC.
The lighthouse has a website with lots of information about its history. You can find more info at www.springpointlight.org, including detailed directions.
I’d recommend a couple hours in the area if you’re not spending much time on the beach. The lighthouse, the fort, the campus and the cove make for a nice afternoon. Many people had their kids and dogs along with them to enjoy the day.
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