Heceta Head Lighthouse!

Considered to be haunted!!

About The Haunted Lighthouse: The beacon is named in honor of the Spanish explorer, Bruno de Heceta (Ha-SEE-Ta), who discovered this place in 1755. Once approved by Congress, it took 56 men roughly two years to build the $80,000 lighthouse complex. The beacon was lit in 1893 and the first keeper was Andrew Hald.

Remarkably, the short tower—only 56’—is the most powerful light on the Oregon Coast. Perched 205’ above sea level, the light boasts a first order Fresnel lens that can seen twenty miles out to sea.

The light was automated in 1963. The keeper’s house and the lighthouse went on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Originally, there was a lighthouse and two keepers’ houses, as well as several outbuildings. One of the keepers’ houses was destroyed in the early 1940s. The remaining house is reportedly haunted by a woman named Rue, who has been dubbed the “Gray Lady.”

Rue is believed to have been the wife of one of the original assistant keepers. She has been seen on occasion, but her presence is most often revealed by her actions. Rue has been known to tidy up by moving objects to where she believes they belong. She is mischievous too. She has set off the fire alarm so often that the battery was removed long ago. Despite not having a battery, the alarm still goes off! She also likes to open kitchen cabinets.

According to legend, Rue had a child who got sick and died (or drowned according to some sources). Unable to bear the loss, Rue took her own life. A child’s grave has been found near the lighthouse. Many believe that Rue lingers here to be close to her child’s grave. Also known as the Gray Lady, Rue doesn’t approve of any renovations (not even repainting). This is when objects are moved and the battery-deficient alarm goes off. One time when a renovation was underway, she revealed herself to a worker while he was in the attic. The poor fellow was so spooked by his encounter with this spirit that he fled and vowed never to step foot inside the house again. He was allowed to work on exterior projects only. He was on the ladder working on the outside of the structure when he accidentally broke a window. Since the glass fell inside the house, he let the mess alone.

Later, scraping sounds were heard inside the house near the broken window. This was odd given that everyone was outside at the time. When other crew members went inside to investigate the scraping noise, they found that all the broken glass had been cleaned up. Footsteps have been heard upstairs and wailing has been heard on occasion. Is this Rue still crying over the loss of her child? The Gray Lady has often been seen in the attic window looking down at visitors. She is clearly seen during daylight hours looking out the attic window, but no one is found when the sighting is investigated. Witnesses claim they saw a shadowy gray figure or gray misty shape, which is how Rue earned her nickname, Gray Lady.

Ghost hunters can stay in the haunted keeper’s house—if they can get a reservation. There is typically a three-month waiting period for a room in the Heceta House.