• Coquille River Lighthouse is a historic landmark at the mouth of the Coquille River
Coquille River Lighthouse, previously known as Bandon Lighthouse, is a historic site sitting at the north entrance of the Coquille River at Bullards Beach, 5 miles away from Old Town Bandon.
The lighthouse was built in 1896 to guide ships safely into Bandon Harbor. Keeper's duplex was built 650 feet away from the lighthouse. Constructed of stuccoed brick, the 40-foot-tall lighthouse has unique architectural features, such as a conical tower attached to the octagonal shaped building.
The lighthouse had a fourth-order Fresnel lens and a Daboll trumpet as a foghorn. In 1910, the trumpet was replaced by a fog siren because it was difficult to hear in certain weather conditions.
In 1939, the Coast Guard took stewardship of the lighthouse and eventually decided it was no longer needed.
As a result, the lighthouse was shut down and replaced with an automated light on the South Jetty at Bandon South Jetty Park. The lens and the siren had been removed after the lighthouse was decommissioned.
Coquille River Light Station remained abandoned for decades. It got heavily damaged by the weather and vandals as a result.
In 1976, the historical significance of the lighthouse was finally recognized. The state and the Army Corps of Engineers began its restoration. It was open to the public in 1979 after the roof, walls, and other parts of the building were repaired. In 1991, a solar-powered light was installed.
In 2007, the lighthouse underwent major and costly restorations after heavy winter storms severely damaged its foundation and other structural elements. The project, which cost over $600,000, involved repairing or replacing nearly every part of the building, including the roof, exterior walls, stucco, and copper flashing.
In addition to visiting the lighthouse, Bullards Beach State Park offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including camping, picnicking, hiking, and beachcombing.
Note: You can also see the lighthouse from the South Jetty Beach, which is a great Oregon Coast destination in its own right.
Bullards Beach State Park Camping, Lodging & Vacation Rentals
Bullards Beach State Park features the largest campground on the Oregon Coast. Protected from strong ocean winds and shaded by a tranquil shore-pine forest, the campground offers over 200 sites, including full-hookup sites, electrical-with-water sites, yurts, horse camps, and hiker/biker camps.
Six campsites and three yurts are accessible to visitors with disabilities.
The campground is open year-round, and reservations can be made up to six months in advance through the Oregon State Parks reservation system.
If you want more comfortable accommodations, Bandon, just a couple of miles south, offers a wide range of lodging options.
Affordable vacation rentals for short and long term stay in Bandon
Coquille River Lighthouse | Facts
Tower Height: 40 feet (12 m)
Focal Height: 47 feet (14 m)
Built: 1895
Operation: Deactivated in 1939
Open: From May through October
Coquille River Lighthouse is located:
- 24 miles southwest of Coos Bay
- 142 miles southwest of Eugene.
Adventures Nearby
Directions to Coquille River Lighthouse
From Highway 101 in Bandon,
- Take Bullards Beach Road at milepost 259 and drive 2.7 miles to the destination.