Living in a lighthouse is a special kind of life that’s very different from living in a regular house.
Imagine not being able to drive right up to your front door.
Instead, you park half a mile away and carry everything you need—food, water, and even gas for the generator.
But once you’re settled in, living there is amazing.
Welcome to the Fairport Harbor West Lighthouse in Fairport Harbor, Ohio.
This lighthouse is a piece of history and shows a lot of determination.
Sheila Consaul, who is 65 years old, decided to take on the challenge of fixing up this old lighthouse. She loves history a lot.
Sheila bought the lighthouse for $71,000 on the shores of Lake Erie.
Sheila lives in Ashburn, Virginia, but she wanted a cooler place to spend the summer. She heard about a chance to buy a lighthouse from the government.
Sheila loves old buildings and thought the lighthouse would be a perfect summer home.
The lighthouse needed a lot of work when she bought it. It had broken windows, falling plaster, and it really needed new paint.
These were just a few of the problems.
Sheila took out a home equity loan to start fixing it up.
She thought it would cost about $200,000. But like many big projects, it ended up costing more money and taking more time than she thought.
Renovating a lighthouse is really hard work.
This lighthouse is in a state park. To get there, you have to walk half a mile on sandy beaches. Sometimes, you even need to climb over a sea wall.
For big items, you need a boat. A crane lifts these items from the boat to the lighthouse.
The lighthouse doesn’t have regular electricity either. It needs all new electrical work and uses a generator for power.
Despite these big challenges, Sheila works hard and pays attention to every detail.
The lighthouse now has a beautiful kitchen with granite countertops and new cabinets.
The living room is cozy, and there is a very useful laundry room thanks to Sheila’s smart planning.
One cool thing inside is the cast iron staircase that twists up to the second floor. It shows how old and special the lighthouse is.
Sheila worked hard to keep the lighthouse’s old charm. She carefully fixed up all the windows. She took off the old paint by hand and put in new glass.
She also added beautiful stained glass windows.
These mix new art with the old style of the lighthouse.
The lighthouse has a special wall that thanks all the volunteers who have helped Sheila over the years. It shows pictures and stories of what they did.
Inside, the lighthouse mixes old and new styles. The bunk room used to have a coal boiler, but now it’s one of three bedrooms.
The bathroom has been updated but still has its original white hexagonal tiles. The main bathroom used to be a pantry, but now it’s a fancy and comfortable space.
The floor that used to help keep the light working now holds all the mechanical equipment.
At the very top of the lighthouse, called the widow’s walk, you can see amazing views of Mentor Headlands Beach and the state park.
Sheila also added solar panels and a wind turbine up there for green energy.
The lighthouse light still works. It turns on every night and off at dawn. The Coast Guard takes care of it.
This lighthouse is more than just a home. It’s a piece of living history, it helps boats navigate, and it shows the community spirit of Fairport Harbor.
Sheila has put a lot of dedication and passion into the lighthouse. She has also worked a lot with the community through this project.
Sometimes, Sheila thinks about renting out the lighthouse or starting a similar project. She knows the unique challenges and joys that come with working on a lighthouse.
Learn more about Sheila’s journey with her lighthouse-to-home transition in the video below!
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.