Events The Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse

Along with our tours, we host an annual summer meeting, volunteer workdays, and special events.

Upcoming Events

Ghost Hunt at Wood Island Lighthouse with the New England Ghost Project
September 11th-12th
Have you ever wanted to go on a ghost hunt? Now is your chance! On the night of September 11th and the morning or the 12th, join author, radio personality and paranormal investigator Ron Kolek and members of the New England Ghost Project for an overnight investigation of Wood Island Lighthouse. This lighthouse was featured in the book Ghost Chronicles and has a history of unusual occurrences. Former keepers, Coast Guard personnel and others have witnessed strange events associated with the island and lighthouse. In 1896, a tragic murder-suicide took place on the island. Do their spirits still inhabit the island? Or is it that of a former lighthouse keeper? Or is it something more sinister? Join Ron and the rest of the NEGP crew for an unbelievable night as they attempt to unravel the mystery of Wood Island. The price of this overnight investigation is only $100. The Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse will be providing free transportation to the island. (All funds will be donated to the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse for preservation of the facility).
Do you have what it takes to become a ghost hunter?
Sign up and find out! CALL 207-468-8057

Ghost Tours
September 11th (Afternoon)
The New England Ghost Project will be offering two tours of the lighthouse on Saturday September 11th at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM. The cost will be $20/person
FOWIL will be providing free transportation. Reservations are required and will be taken after August 25th. Call our reservation line 207 – 286-3229

"Maine Open Lighthouse Day," September 18th, 2010
FOWIL will once again be participating in the 2nd annual Maine Open Lighthouse Day. Weather permitting, FOWIL will host tours of Wood Island Lighthouse. This event is sponsored by the State of Maine, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the American Lighthouse Foundation. Reservations are required and may be made after October 1st by calling the reservation line at 207-286-3229.

American Lighthouse Foundation Gala & Volunteer Awards Night, October 23rd, 2010
ALF annual Gala event will be held in 2010 at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine. Dinner, ALF presentations, and Volunteer of the Year Awards will all be held on this evening. Spend an evening with other lighthouse enthusiasts as we celebrate the hard work of ALF and it's lighthouse chapters. Special overnight rates maybe available for those traveling to this event.

Past Events
Restoration of the Wood Island Light Tower
Early Summer
FOWIL has acquired the services of Stone Age Masonry to carry-out FOWIL's first major restoration project of Wood Island Lighthouse. Stoneage masonry stripped the paint of the tower and repaired the stonework on both the inside and outside of the lighthouse tower. Weather permitting, the project will be finished with new paint applied to the tower sometime in the early part of Summer.

American Lighthouse Foundation Gala & Volunteer Awards Night, November 7th, 2009
19 FOWIL members and a total of about 150 ALF members and friends gathered for the ALF Gala at the Nonantum Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine. A special presentation on New London Ledge Light was given to the great enjoyment of those attending the event. Numerous volunteer awards were presented by the various chapters of ALF, with Mal Stallings receiving the volunteer award for the Friends of Wood Island Lighthouse. The evening also included a delicious dinner, an auction of lighthouse related gifts, and many door prizes.

"Maine Open Lighthouse Day," September 12th, 2009
Despite some rainy weather FOWIL, participated in the first Maine Open Lighthouse Day. The event was sponsored by the State of Maine, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the American Lighthouse Foundation. FOWIL offered its' ever popular boat and lighthouse tour of Wood Island Lighthouse.

"Light the Night," Biddeford Pool, August 8th, 2009
As part of the Biddeford Pool "Light the Night" celebration, FOWIL hosted one of the three beach-side bon-fires, during this event. The "Light the Night" event included an outdoor concert, cook-out, and the lighting of Biddeford Pool with Chinese lanterns.

FOWIL General Meeting, Saturday July 25th, 2009
Annual Meeting at the Biddeford Pool Fire Station, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m
The 2009 FOWIL general meeting started off with brief reports from the executive members on the status of FOWIL. A slideshow Tribute in memory of architect Dave Curran followed, and celebrated Dave's hard work and contributions toward FOWIL's mission. This included has creative solution for the lighthouse tower handrail, and his architectural work drafting the preliminary plans for the lighthouse's restoration.

Bob Trapani, American Lighthouse Foundation Executive Director, discussed the status of ALF and some of the details related to ALF's recent award of Federal Funding to support three Maine Lighthouses, which includes Wood Island.

A special presentation was given by architect Ed Theriault and Scott Whitaker of Theriault / Landmann Associates of Portland Maine, who are creating FOWIL's tower restoration plans. This exciting presentation featured some of the challenges and problems facing the lighthouse tower's current condition, and the plans for correcting them. After years of tireless work, it was gratifying for those attending the meeting to see the groups vision of restoration starting to take a definitive shape. This preliminary work, planning, and approval by the Coast Guard and Maine Historical Society will ideally be completed by the end of summer. At that time, FOWIL hopes to begin the tower restoration in the fall of this year.

To end the meeting, Kyle Noble presented his research into the replacement of Wood Island's dysfunctional web-cam. Several enthusiastic audience members made contributions to the new fundraising effort to pay for the cost of the replacement.

FOWIL General Meeting, Saturday August 16th, 2008
Annual Meeting at the Biddeford Pool Fire Station, 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Click here to view photos from the meeting.
The general meeting is open to the public and presents a great opportunity to interact with the FOWIL membership and to learn more about the ongoing efforts to preserve our historic landmark. FOWIL's executive committee will present various reports on the state of the Wood Island and the events and activities that have occurred over the past year. A short review of our fundraising efforts including July's Capture the Coast and our ongoing merchandise sales will be given. Updates on the Lightrunner, summer tour season, fall work day, and the tower restoration will also be presented. In addition Kyle Noble and Dave Curran will give a presentation on the design and installation of the new tower handrails that were installed earlier this year. The meeting will be held in the 2nd floor meeting room of the Biddeford Pool Fire Station, located on L.B. Orcutt Blvd.

Wood Island Birthday Party, Sunday August 17th, 2008
Celebrate Wood Island's Bicentennial with live outdoor music, birthday cake, food and refreshments at Hattie's restaurant 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. Click here for more information.

Capture the Coast, July 13th, 2008
A celebration of Wood Island Lighthouse's 200th Birthday with a Party & Auction of Original Artwork, at the Nonantum Resort. Capture the Coast.

Ghost Hunters, September 30th, 2006
The New England Ghost Project returned for a second investigation on September 30th, 2006. Read reporter Annie Ellis' report of the ghost haunt, as reported in the Biddeford Courier. Ghost Hunters (2006)

Haunting Event, July 29th, 2006
This evening event featured dinner served at the Biddeford Pool fire barn, boat trips around the island, guided village walks, and a presentation by the New England Ghost Project at Union Church. The presentation featured the results of the New England Ghost Projects study of Wood Island Lighthouse in the fall of 2005. As a special treat, FOWIL auctioned off the chance for someone to join NEGP during their second investigation of Wood Island's ghosts in the fall of 2006. The event raised $5000 to benefit Wood Island Lighthouse. Haunting Event 2006 Photos

The Haunting of Wood Island Lighthouse, September 30th, 2005
New England Ghost Project investigated the lighthouse on September 30th, 2005. Click here to read their report. Haunting

Fresh Paint, July 17th, 2005
Artists descend on Wood Island and Biddeford Pool to paint for the day and auction of their works of art in the afternoon. To view pictures from this event, click here Fresh Paint 2005 Pictures.

Artist Brad Coupe with winning bidders, Thom Rouselle and Sandy Ragan at the 2008 Capture the Coast.


FOWIL's "Gossamer Ghosts"
in the 2006 Biddeford Pool 4th of July Parade.