Top 5 Fun Facts About The Lighthouse Inn

Over the years, guests and friends of the Lighthouse Inn have asked many interesting questions. The standards are easy — "where is the beach?" and "where is a good place for dinner?" The more interesting ones, about the inn and its history, are the ones that spark conversations and memories. In no particular order, here are our top five favorites.

1. Why are the shower heads so low?

When you know the answer, you have the opportunity to step back in time and experience a touch of history yourself. The hotel was originally built in 1938, and another wing was added in 1952. The 1938 section was refurbished to include en-suite baths (it had originally been shared bath), so all the showers were added and redone in the early 1950s when the addition was built. In those days, women spent hours at the Beauty Parlour getting their hair done and didn't wash daily; even men typically didn't wash their hair every day. Shower heads in hotels were set to hit about chest height, so one could wash without mussing up that nice coiffure.

2. Are any of the rooms identical?

We have about two dozen rooms, and while some are similar, none of them are identical. Each room or suite has its own character and personality. They vary in color, décor, and furniture. Some have decorative fireplaces (#3, #23). Some have sofa beds (#1, #3, #30, #39). Half the rooms are carpeted; the others have wood-style flooring. Whatever your taste, there's a room that suits it.

3. Is this place haunted?

Depends. Some people say yes, some say no. The flickering lights we noticed when we first bought the hotel turned out to be wiring — once we fixed it, the flickering stopped (hm…). On the other hand, guests sometimes mention feeling strangely calm while visiting, moreso than they'd expected. We leave it to you to discover whether there are ghosts about. If there are, they're friendly ones.

4. Why don't you have coffeemakers in the rooms?

We happily provide as much coffee as you can drink in the lobby every morning. The lobby is an inviting gathering place with comfortable seating and a warm fire crackling. Often, people who would never have interacted otherwise start conversations over coffee that turn into lasting friendships. If those folks had brewed coffee privately in their rooms, would those connections have happened?

5. Why is the place named Lighthouse Inn when there isn't a lighthouse around for miles?

This one is a question for the ages. Our humble inn was originally named Hotel Ragan, after the original innkeepers. Sometime during the past 75 years the name changed to the Florence Coast Motel, which it remained for a while before being changed again. The current name has been in place for about twenty years. For tradition's sake we kept it — but if we could slip back through time to ask any question of our own, surely it would be: "Why Lighthouse Inn?"