This page last updated 06/11/2007.
	Welcome to the official web site of the May 19-20, 2007 A cooperative effort of Long Island's historic lighthouse preservation and education groups: Montauk Historical Society, Montauk Point Lighthouse and Museum Huntington Lighthouse Preservation Society Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society The Long Island Chapter of the US Lighthouse Society East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation Southold Historical Society, Horton Point Lighthouse and Museum With LighthouseTShirts.com in association with New Jersey Lighthouse Society Chesapeake Chapter of the US Lighthouse Society (Lighthouse Photos Courtesy of NewYorkLighthouses.com)

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2007 Challenge Special Guest:

Bill Younger Founder of Harbour Lights

Bill was at Cedar Island Lighthouse on Saturday,
May 19 and at Huntington Harbor Lighthouse on Sunday, May 20.

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Thanks to the many volunteers who helped out at the Challenge sites. Challenge participant feedback was very positive and the LI Lighthouse/Museum bookmark ribbons were a big hit.
 

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Mega Raffle Prize Winners

MEGA RAFFLE PRIZE	PRIZE WINNER
Private tour for 10 at the offshore Huntington Harbor Lighthouse	Hal Dean
Private sunrise or sunset tower tour for 10 at the Fire Island Lighthouse	Lisa Maderic, North Hampton PA
Cedar Island Lighthouse Picnic Tour for 5	Stacy Gray
2 tickets for a Long Island Chapter USLHS 2008 Cruise	Deb Halliday
Gift basket from the Montauk Point Lighthouse Gift Shop	Kathy Burns
Gift basket from the Fire Island Lighthouse Gift Shop	M. Ackerson, Smithtown NY
Gift basket from rhe Horton Point Lighthouse Gift Shop	Lottie Adams
Gift basket from the Huntington Harbor Lighthouse Gift Shop	Craig Jones
Gift basket from the East End Seaport Museum	Mi Wong, Woodside NY
Gift basket from LighthouseTShirts.com	Kay Riley, Sarasota FL
Hat and Polo Shirt from Eatons Neck Coast Guard Station	Cindy Reeder, Brownsville TN
Harbour Lights Statue of Liberty	Jonathan Jones, Seaford DE
Harbour Lights Fire Island Lighthouse (2)	Jackie Roberts Karen Bobetsky
Harbour Lights Horton Point Lighthouse (2)	Cathy Burns Bob Bidonde
Harbour Lights Montauk Point Lighthouse (2)	Frank Knoll, Huntington Station NY Bob Pope
Harbor Lights Orient Point Lighthouse (2)	Steve Eckers, East Northport NY Marsha Wirick, Orlando FL
Harbor Lights Cedar Island Lighthouse	Dottie Krug
Harbor Lights Race Rock Lighthouse (2)	Susan Brzeski, Seldin NY Sue Newton, East Northport NY

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Challenge Kickoff Cruise

THERE WAS A KICKOFF CRUISE
SPONSRED BY LighthouseTShirts.com ON
FRIDAY, MAY 18 at 4:30 P.M.

More than100 Challenge participants enjoyed this cruise and a second that was added for Saturday evening.

Historical narrations by:

Bob Muller, Past President, Long Island Chapter, US Lighthouse Society and
author of Long Island's Lighthouses Past and Present
and New York State Lighthouses.

Bob Allen, Board Member, Long Island Chapter, US Lighthouse Society and
Great-Grandson of the last Lighthouse Keeper at Cedar Island .

CONTACT NANCY BAHNSEN FOR MORE INFORMATION AT: LighthouseTShirts.com

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INFORMATION ABOUT CHALLENGE MERCHANDISE AND CRUISES IS AVAILABLE AT WWW.LIGHTHOUSETSHIRTS.COM.

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MEET OUR LIGHTHOUSE ARTIST

Artist and Long Island Chapter Board Member,
Terry Elkins
will be at the Cedar Island Lighthouse site on Challenge Weekend.
Talk with Terry and view his extraordinary lighthouse artwork.

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Again in 2007 - Lighthouse Challenge Triple Crown

The Long Island, Chesapeake, and New Jersey Lighthouse groups
have again joined forces to offer the "Triple Crown" of Lighthouses Award
for those individuals who complete all three of the 2007 Challenges!

Long Island Challenge - May 19 and 20

Maryland Challenge - September 15 and 16

New Jersey Challenge - October 20 and 21

Present proof of completion of all three Challenges at your last stop during the New Jersey event to receive your Triple Crown Award!

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Click on a title below for related information:

Challenge Sites -- Recommended Starting Points -- Notes on Traveling on Long Island

Accommodations -- Organizers -- Sponsors -- Supporters --   List of Local Zip Codes

What is a Lighthouse Challenge? And other FAQs

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Challenge Organizers:

Long Island Chapter, US Lighthouse Society
Huntington Harbor Lighthouse Preservation Society
Montauk Point Lighthouse and Museum
Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society
East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation
Horton Point Lighthouse and Museum
LighthouseTShirts.com

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Sponsors:

The Suffolk County Department of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation.

Harbour Lights

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Supporters:

Fire Island National Seashore
US Coast Guard Station Eatons Neck
Southold Park District
Islandia Marroitt

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Recommended Starting Points:

Keep in mind that your route will take you clockwise or counterclockwise around Suffolk County, and into northeastern Nassau County

• Arriving via Throgg's Neck or Whitestone Bridge, or LaGuardia Airport: Huntington Harbor (proceed clockwise or counterclockwise)
• Arriving via Verrazano Narrows Bridge, or JFK or Newark Airport: Fire Island Light (proceed counterclockwise)
• Arriving via Bridgeport/Port Jefferson Ferry: Old Field Point, then Eatons Neck (west/counterclockwise - recommended) or Horton Point (east/clockwise)
• Arriving via New London/Orient Point Ferry: Plum Island/Orient Point, then Long Beach Bar, then East End Seaport Museum, then Horton Point (west/counterclockwise) or Cedar Island (south/clockwise)
• Arriving via Islip MacArthur Airport: Old Field Point (north/clockwise) or Fire Island (southwest/counterclockwise)
• Beginning at Islandia Marriott - Old Field Point (north/clockwise) or Fire Island (southwest/counterclockwise)

Notes on Traveling on Long Island

• For the Challenge, I HIGHLY recommend getting yourself a map. I prefer the large Hagstrom's Suffolk County map (ISBN: 0880977299). The map is available from Amazon.com for $16.95 at: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0880977299/qid=1106355341/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl14/104-6112706-7779943?v=glance&s=books&n=507846 or you can order one from your local book store by using the ISBN. The table of sites above lists the map and grid numbers for each site.
• Access to Long Island is by:
  • Ferry (to Port Jefferson or Orient Point)
  • Bridges (via NJ Turnpike, I-95 or Manhattan)
  • Air (JFK, LaGuardia, or Islip airports)
• Primary East-West Roads in Nassau and Suffolk Counties (north side to south side)
  • Route 25A (Northern Boulevard, North Country Road)
  • Route 25 (Middle Country Road)
  • Northern Parkway (ends in Hauppauge)
  • Long Island Expressway (I-495)
  • Southern Parkway (ends in East Islip)
  • Route 27 (Sunrise Highway)
  • Route 27A (Montauk Highway, Main Street)
• Primary North-South Roads (east to west, with corresponding exit from LI Expressway))
  • Meadowbrook Parkway
  • Wantagh Parkway
  • Route 135 (Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway)
  • Route 106
  • Route 107
  • Route 110
  • Route 231 (Deer Park Ave)
  • Robert Moses Causeway/Sagtikos Parkway/Sunken Meadow Parkway
  • State Route 111
  • Nicoll's Road (Route 97)
  • Route 112
  • William Floyd Parkway (Route 46)
  • County Route 111
  • Route 51
  • Route 24
  • 114 (requires ferries to and from Shelter Island)
• Fuel and food are most easily found along the major east-west routes. On the Challenge, this will primarily be Routes 27 and 25A. On 27, food and fuel are more available west of Patchogue (Route 112). On 25A, you'll have the best luck west of Shoreham (William Floyd Parkway). In general food and fuel become less available, and more expensive, when you reach the eastern end of the island.
• Please obey all traffic laws, including wearing seat belts, observing speed limits, and signaling when changing lanes. Also note that NY state law does not allow for the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. You must either pull over, have a passenger make calls, or use a hands-free setup.

Overnight Accommodations (Make your accommodations early)

Town/Location	Name	Cost (subject to change -  please contact)	Contact	Nearby Attractions	Nearby Restaurants
LIE Exit 52	Wingate Inn		1-800-228-1000	Fire Island Light
LIE Exit 52	Hampton Inn		631-462-5700	Fire Island Light
LIE Exit 56	Holiday Inn Express		631-348-1600	Fire Island Light
Hauppauge LIE Exit 58	Islandia Marriott	$99 special rate for Challenge Weekend   Reserve by 4/18 for this special rate	1-800-228-9290 or 631-232-3000	Fire Island Light Old Field Light
Bay Shore Route 27A	Econo Lodge		631-666-6000	Fire Island Light	Oconee East Diner Coopersmith's
North Fork (Peconic, Cutchogue, Southold, Greenport, East Marion, Orient)	North Fork Bed and Breakfast Association	List of members: http://www.northfork.com/nfbba/members.htm		Horton Point Light East End Seaport Museum Long Beach Bar Orient Point/Plum Island Wineries
North Fork (Peconic, Cutchogue, Southold, Greenport, East Marion, Orient)	Long Island Wine Country Bed and Breakfast Group	www.longislandwinecountrybandb.com info@longislandwinecountrybandb.com 631-495-9744		Horton Point Light East End Seaport Museum Long Beach Bar Orient Point/Plum Island Wineries
Greenport	Stirling House Bed and Breakfast	www.stirlinghousebandb.com info@www.stirlinghousebandb.com 1-800-551-0654		Horton Point Light East End Seaport Museum Long Beach Bar Orient Point/Plum Island Wineries	Several in Greenport and surrounding area
Sag Harbor South Fork	Baron's Cove			Whaling Museum Historic whaling village Cedar Island Light
CAMPGROUNDS
Town		Name		Phone #
Riverhead		Indian Island Park		631-854-4949
Montauk		Hither Hills State Park		631-668-2554
Greenport		Eastern LI Kampground		631-477-0022
Cutchogue		Cliff & Ed’s Trailer Park		631-289-4091
East Hampton		Cedar Point County Park		631-852-7620
Old Bethpage		Battle Row Campground		516-572-8690
Smithtown		Blydenburgh County Park		631-854-3712

 

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What is a Lighthouse Challenge? And other FAQs

Q. What is a Lighthouse Challenge?

    A. A Lighthouse Challenge is an event in which participants are "challenged" to visit a fixed number of lighthouses and lighthouse-related sites in a given amount of time. At each stop they receive a souvenir and, if they complete all stops on the Challenge, they receive a special commemorative souvenir. The event generally includes extra activities, special guests, etc.

Q. What group is running the Long Island Lighthouse Challenge?

    A. There is no single group organizing the event. It is a collaborative effort of all of Long Island's historic lighthouse preservation and education groups. All involved groups have input and must agree on the details. While this might sound like a "design by committee" nightmare, the event is based on a successful core concept, and the involved groups are working with mutual respect and communication.

Q. Who benefits from the Challenge?

    A. The idea is to benefit all the involved groups as equally as possible, as well as participants, local communities, sponsors, and lighthouse preservation and education in general.

Q. What lighthouse does the Challenge start at?

    A. You can start or end anywhere on the route, and go in either direction (clockwise or counter-clockwise). There are recommended starting points above, depending on where you are coming from.

Q. How much does it cost to participate?

    A. There is no fee for the Challenge, but some sites may have fees for parking, admission, etc. See the table of sites above for more specific information.

Q. Can we drive to Eatons Neck instead of taking the bus?

    A. No. Because Eatons Neck is an active US Coast Guard station, special conditions needed to be met to include this site in the Challenge.

Q. Are there special instructions for people with accessibility concerns?

    A. Participants with accessibility concerns should call each site ahead of time (recommended) and/or speak with volunteers at the sites during the weekend. Such matters have been a part of the planning process from the start, as we want everyone to be able to enjoy the event.

Q. I like to buy lighthouse stuff. What merchandise will be available during the Challenge Weekend?

    A. Several of the sites will have site-specific merchandise for sale (Fire Island, Montauk Point, Cedar Island, East End Seaport Museum/Long Beach Bar, Horton Point, Eatons Neck, and Huntington Harbor). More in formation on event merchandise is available at LighthouseTShirts.com.

Q. Will there be food or refreshments available at any of the sites?

    A. While it's best to check with each site for specific information, food should be available at Montauk Point State Park (adjacent to the Montauk Point Lighthouse) and Cedar Point County Park (home of the Cedar Island Lighthouse). The Fire Island Lighthouse has soda and water available for sale. There is no shortage of restaurants on Long Island and there are plenty of fast food establishments in central and western Suffolk County.

Q. I have a question that isn't answered here. How can I get an answer?

    A. E-mail Brian Keena. He'll be happy to answer questions.

Take the Maryland Lighthouse Challenge September 15-16
and
New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge October 20-21

 

Please Note: The information on this site is intended to help you make your participation in the Challenge more convenient, enjoyable, and safe. You must do your own planning, though. No one associated with this site or the LI Lighthouse Challenge makes any guarantees about, or assumes any responsibility for, the use of this information.