If there’s one thing the great state of West Virginia lacks, it’s oceanfront. We’re not complaining, since we’ll take mountains over beach any day. But that doesn’t make the statement any less true.

However, despite being a stranger to blue water, there's one thing that West Virginia surprisingly does not lack: a lighthouse.
Summersville Lake Lighthouse/Facebook
Yes, that's right, there's a lighthouse in the land-locked state of West Virginia.
Summersville Lake Lighthouse/Facebook
And if you squint and use your imagination, that thin layer of snow might even look a bit like white beach sand.
And doesn't this view of Summersville Lake from the top of the lighthouse remind you just a little bit of a tropical paradise?
RoamingMountaineer/Tripadvisor
Of course it does, because it is a paradise. A mountain paradise!

Related Stories

The View From The R.D. Bailey Lake Visitor Center Is One Of West Virginia's Best Kept Secrets

The View From The R.D. Bailey Lake Visitor Center Is One Of West Virginia's Best Kept Secrets

 Spend The Night At A Civil War Battlefield When You Visit This Lakeside Campground In West Virginia

Spend The Night At A Civil War Battlefield When You Visit This Lakeside Campground In West Virginia

 Spend The Day Or The Night At Blue Bend, A Swimming Hole, Campground, And Trail Loop In West Virginia

Spend The Day Or The Night At Blue Bend, A Swimming Hole, Campground, And Trail Loop In West Virginia
But why in the world would there be a lighthouse in West Virginia, you might wonder, and how did it get there?
Summersville Lake Lighthouse/Facebook
The Summersville Lake Lighthouse started as a joke between friends, two of which owned Summersville Lake Retreat and one of which worked at a nearby wind farm.
Summersville Lake Lighthouse/Facebook
"A spare wind turbine tower would make a mighty fine lighthouse!" they joked together, and what do you know. There ended up being a spare piece of wind turbine tower, which arrived at Summersville Lake Retreat on a truck soon after. The rest is history.
Now, the 104-foot-tall lighthouse presides regally over the Summersville Lake Resort facilities...
WV1stLighthouse/Tripadvisor
... and provides visitors who climb its 122 spiral steps with incredible bird's-eye views of the surrounding Appalachian Mountains and the famed Summersville Lake.
Donna M/Tripadvisor
Have you ever visited this unexpected West Virginia attraction?

To learn more or book a stay at the retreat that hosts this lighthouse, visit Summersville Lake Retreat’s website here. And while you’re in Mt. Nebo enjoying the Summersville Lake area and all it has to offer, stop by this cute little general store for a waterfront lunch.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Related Articles

Explore West Virginia

Featured Addresses
278 Summersville Lake Road (Hwy 129W), GPS Coordinates: N 38.19950 W -80.8660, Mt Nebo, WV 26679, USA