Lighthouses stand as silent sentinels on rugged, isolated coastlines, but thanks to shipwrecks, wars, and pirate attacks, these beacons of light are often associated with haunted tales and ghostly sightings – some harmless, some malevolent.
Visit Heceta Head Light station on October 30th between 11:30-2:30 to experience the history and hear ghostly stories from past B&B guests and staff of the Heceta Head Lightkeeper’s House. Each tour is 20-30 minutes and limited to 15 people. Reservations and donations are required. Call 541-547-5490 or email [email protected] to reserve your spot. Parking is available at the Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint parking lot for $5, card payments only.
Heceta Head Lighthouse in Florence, Oregon has been named one of the top ten haunted lighthouses in the nation by Coastal Living Magazine. The light keeper’s home is said to be inhabited by someone named the “Gray Lady,” or “Rue,” often appearing as either an elderly woman, or a smoke-like figure that quickly disappears. She is said to not be fond of anyone making any changes to the place she called home, and is known for setting off fire alarms and moving around objects.
Some of the earliest tales involve workmen encountering the otherworldly lady and running away in fear. One man refused to finish working inside one room and would only continue working on a window from the outside – even after he broke it. He wouldn’t even enter the room to clean it up. In the middle of the night, the family living there heard sweeping noises somewhere upstairs. The next day, they discovered the glass had been swept into a neat little pile.
Two of the more credible witnesses of this ghost are famed Oregon scenic photographers Steve Terrill and Larry Geddis. The pair were staying at the now converted bend-and-breakfast while shooting photos of the surrounding area. At one point, they spotted what looked like the figure of a woman appearing in the window of Geddis’ room. Later, Terrill said, they discovered some small objects in Geddis’ room had been moved. The family that runs the B&B claim “Rue” is considered a member of the family now and is harmless to visitors.
Plan a Halloween weekend getaway with Oregon Beach Vacations. We have a lovely collection of coastal vacation rentals, pet-friendly options, too! You can book online, or call us on 503-528-7480.
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