Facts below are drawn from the linked sources.
Real history
North Head Light was built in 1897 and first lit in 1898, above the mouth of the Columbia River. The Coast Guard turned the light station over to Washington State Parks in November 2012 (Wikipedia).
Ghost stories
These are reported legends, not verified events. The creepiness score (1–5) is Spook Atlas's own editorial rating, not a measurement.
Ghost Adventures (2018) investigated the keeper's house over reports of a spirit called Mary, the wife of first keeper Alexander Pesonen, whose death the show calls a suspicious suicide. Source: Wikipedia.
Then and now

Public access
Open to the public The lighthouse is in Cape Disappointment State Park, per Washington State Parks. Check the park page for hours. Last checked: Oct 31, 2026.
Explore more
- More places in Ilwaco and Washington
- More haunted & abandoned lighthouses
- Nearby: Fort Columbia (Chinook, WA), Fort Stevens (Hammond, OR), Wreck of the Peter Iredale (Warrenton, OR), Captain George Flavel House Museum (Astoria, OR)
⚠️ Please read: This information may be outdated and conditions change. Verify access with the owner or operator before you go. Spook Atlas does not encourage trespassing. Entering private, closed or condemned property can be illegal and dangerous. Report a correction.
Reader experiences
Not yet accepting submissions. Reader stories are coming later; this form is switched off and sends nothing. All stories are moderated before they appear. Posts describing trespassing, break-ins or how to get into closed areas are removed.
