Heceta Head
Lighthouse Bed and Breakfast - Yachats, Oregon
Pronounced “Ha – SEE – Ta” by most, “HECK – ah – Ta” by others, yet
everyone agrees Heceta Head is one of the most beautiful lighthouses
in the world. The lighthouse is a working lighthouse. From a height
of 205 feet above the ocean, it’s “first order” Fresnel lens, casts
it’s beams some 21 miles out to sea. It is the brightest light on
the Oregon coast. It is said to be the most photographed lighthouse
in the United States. The Queen Anne style Keeper’s House has been
restored to its original splendor. It now serves as an Interpretive
Center by day and a Bed and Breakfast by night. The B&B welcomes
guests year around. Guests are encouraged to view the lighthouse
after dark, a rare experience. The awesome sight in the sky while
standing at the base of the tower can only be described as
“Magical.”
Did someone say breakfast?
A seven-course gourmet breakfast is served each morning in the
dining room and is included in the price of the room.
Interpretive Center
The Keeper’s House and the Lighthouse offer guided tours from
knowledgeable docents during the summer months. Throughout the year
personal tours may be arranged by appointment for individuals,
educational groups, historic societies and civic organizations.
There is no charge for tours, however donations for restoration and
interpretive projects are gladly accepted. Public parking is located
at the Heceta Head Lighthouse State Scenic Viewpoint. A $3 fee per
vehicle is required for the day use area.
The Keeper’s House
The Interpretive Center is located on the first floor of the
Keeper’s House. Tours are given Memorial Day weekend through Labor
Day, Thursday through Monday from 12 to 5 p.m. To arrange a tour
beyond the regular tour season please call 1-866-547-3696.
The Lighthouse
Tours are given daily, March through October, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The lighthouse observation area is open year round during park
hours. To arrange a tour beyond the regular tour season please call
1-800-551-6949. For more information, visit Oregon State Parks.
The Ghost of The Lady in Gray
One of the more famous haunted lighthouse
legends is about the ghost of an older mother that roams the Heceta
Head Lighthouse in Florence. The Lady in Gray, or Rue as she is now
known, was the wife of an assistant light keeper in the 1890s. It is
said that her young daughter drowned in the local estuary or the
ocean and, in despair, the mother committed suicide. The location of
the young girl's grave is not exactly known, but the headstone
supposedly resides somewhere in the vegetation surrounding the
lighthouse. Rue now haunts the Heceta Head Light, ever searching for
her long-lost daughter. Rue walks the premises to this day. Guests
have reported having some friendly encounters with the Lady in Gray.
