Jun 28, 2024 - Real Estate

You can live in this lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay

Karri Peifer

Dave McNally raised his arms and exhaulted, "we made it!," after he and wife Teri (L) made it to their lighthouse desk via a rusted old ladder. (Photo by Michael Williamson/The The Washington Post via Getty Images) — The Smith Point Lighthouse is in the Chesapeake Bay. Photo: Michael Williamson/Washington Post via Getty Images

Owning a "rivah" house has long been a status symbol for Richmonders, but a new-to-market property could give a buyer ultimate bragging rights: owning a house in the Chesapeake Bay.

State of play: After nearly 20 years of love and restoration work, the owners of Smith Point Lighthouse recently listed their fully restored and livable 1897 lighthouse, the Washington Post reports.

Smith Point is an active lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Potomac River and near the Little Wicomico River, about 3 miles off the coast of Reedville.
The four-bedroom, one-bath "island" home is less than two hours from Richmond.
All of the furniture, plus window AC units, a portable dishwasher, and crab pots come with the purchase, per the listing.

Yes, but: Getting there can be a challenge, per the Post. On a rough water day, it can take up to an hour to travel the three miles from shore to lighthouse. And then there are some ladders to climb to get in it.

But, but, but: Then there are the sunsets, panoramic Bay views, and a whole lighthouse to call your own.

And it could all be yours for $450,000, which is just slightly over Richmond's latest median home price, and Richmond houses almost never include crab pots.

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You can live in this lighthouse in the Chesapeake Bay

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