In a F-O-W-L mood? A visit to the Lighthouse Depot will cheer you up!

I'm writing this post in order to tell you about two cool places I've come across while researching/planning possible lighthouse destinations!

First up is the self-proclaimed (and is anyone doubting them?) "World's Largest Lighthouse Gift Store", The Lighthouse Depot located in Wells, ME. The original and bigger location is in Wells anyway, there is another location at the Maine Lighthouse Museum (also has to be worth a visit someday) in Rockland, ME. The Wells store boasts two buildings each with two floors full of the perfect gifts for that (those) lighthouse lover(s) you know. They have everything from home decor, to outdoor/patio lighthouse trinkets and everything in-between. Also, they put a percentage of their sales in a trust fund that will benefit various lighthouse preservation organizations throughout the country.

As soon as I came across this gem I started to look for lighthouses in the area that could possibly be tied together in a one-stop multiple-attraction visit. And what I came across, although not the closest lighthouse is definitely the most interesting. The Wood Island Lighthouse is located just offshore from Biddeford Pool, ME (down the Saco River from Biddeford/Saco) on a tiny island. The station dates back as far as 1808 with the current granite tower being completed in 1858. Over the course of the 20th century the lighthouse was automated by the Coast Guard and slowly fell victim to disrepair. Within the past decade a tiny group of locals working together with the American Lighthouse Foundation started to make drastic repairs to the lighthouse (including the two-story Dutch style dwelling).

These locals now call themselves The Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse (FOWL), and not only do they maintain the island and lighthouse with daily upkeep but they also offer daily tours that depart from Biddeford Pool and allow guests to visit and climb the lighthouse, all through volunteer work!! The best (and most sincere) part is that they offer these tours for free, all they ask for is a small donation per person that go towards the operation of the boat and the overall mission of restoring Wood Island.