Bodie Island Lighthouse

The current lighthouse, completed in 1872, is the third to stand in this location. The first was abandoned due to poor foundation in 1859, and the second was destroyed by Confederate troops in 1861. The 156-foot tower guards the northern Cape Hatteras National Seashore.

Bodie Island Lighthouse stands 156 feet tall on the sound side of Nags Head, its distinctive black-and-white horizontal stripes marking one of the Outer Banks' most recognizable landmarks. The current lighthouse, built in 1872, is actually the third to stand in this vicinity—a history of failure and destruction that some say has left its mark on the property. When a lighthouse is rumored to be named after the dozens of dead bodies that washed ashore on this stretch of coast, it's no surprise that ghost stories would follow.

The first Bodie Island Lighthouse was built in 1847 but abandoned just twelve years later due to a poor foundation. Its replacement, constructed in 1859, met a more dramatic end: retreating Confederate troops blew it up in 1861, fearing the Union would use it for navigation. The current lighthouse has stood for over 150 years, weathering hurricanes and the relentless erosion of the barrier islands. But the paranormal activity centers not on the tower itself, but on the gatekeeper's cottage nearby.

The cottage, now serving as the lighthouse gift shop, harbors a spirit that keeps a precise schedule. Every day at 4:00 PM on the dot, visitors and staff hear a loud knock from behind the building's large brick fireplace. The sound is unmistakable, consistent, and unexplained. No one knows who—or what—lies behind the fireplace, or why the knock comes at exactly the same time each day.

The cottage's haunting has become well-known among Outer Banks paranormal enthusiasts. While the lighthouse itself has not shown obvious signs of supernatural activity, the gatekeeper's cottage maintains a presence that defies explanation. Perhaps a former keeper still goes about his duties, marking the hours of his eternal watch with a knock that announces the late afternoon.

The Outer Banks are rich with paranormal sites. Cape Hatteras Lighthouse to the south is home to the famous Ghost Cat, while the Currituck Beach Light to the north has its own spectral inhabitants. Ocracoke Lighthouse, the oldest operating lighthouse in North Carolina, is said to harbor three distinct ghosts. Bodie Island takes its place among these haunted beacons, each marking dangerous waters that have claimed countless ships and lives.

Today the Bodie Island Lighthouse is owned by the National Park Service and open for climbing from mid-April through mid-October. Visitors can ascend the 214 steps to the top for panoramic views of the Outer Banks—and stop by the gift shop in the gatekeeper's cottage, where they might hear that mysterious 4:00 PM knock for themselves.

The lighthouse stands as a monument to the keepers who lived in isolation on these barrier islands, maintaining the light that guided ships safely past the shoals. At least one of those keepers seems to have never left his post.