South Haven lighthouse up for sale

SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – You could be the new owner of one of the most famous pieces of real estate in West Michigan.

The lighthouse in South Haven is for sale. The Coast Guard no longer needs the property, and is selling it.

If you're in the market for a lighthouse, have we got a deal for you. But, like any real estate, questions abound.

“Does it include the pier leading up to it?” asked Randy Faunce. “Is it still in condition to be accessible?”

Before you rush out to submit your bids, lets shine a light on one fact. If the community or a historic group wants the lighthouse, it is more likely to get it, and could get it for free if it can prove the lighthouse will be cared for, something the icon of South Haven deserves.

“The lighthouse is something that's readily identifiable with the City of South Haven,” said Brian Dissette, South Haven City Manager. “It's a piece of infrastructure. While technically we don't run it, we definitely identify with it.”

While the lighthouse could go to private auction, the buyer won't get the matching keeper's house, which belongs to the city and is run by the Michigan Maritime Museum.

“The particular lighthouse that's there, it's been there since 1903,” said Gary Horton, Michigan Maritime Museum Board of Trustees, “so it's been around for awhile. It is a landmark, it's probably the most photographed thing in South Haven.”

While boats no longer need the lighthouse anymore, they once did and a Civil War Veteran with a wooden leg was one of those who walked the pier in all conditions to light the lighthouse.

“I think there were about seven or eight lighthouse keepers here until about 1941,” said Horton.

South Haven's city manager admits that he liked it better when the federal government maintained the lighthouse.

“I can understand their position,” said Dissette. “I'm not thrilled with it, but we are taking steps to make sure that lighthouse stays in the public's hands.”

Dissette hopes a group takes action to keep the lighthouse in public hands and do regular maintenance.

Dissette told Newschannel 3 that South Haven has submitted a letter to the federal government saying it would like to have the lighthouse.