Fire Island Lighthouse

At a glance

Visual character

“Tall black-banded white brick tower on barrier island; Atlantic Ocean and Great South Bay; accessible by boat or summer ferry; near NYC but remote in feel”

About

Fire Island Lighthouse rises 168 feet above a pristine barrier island just 60 miles from Manhattan, offering the rare combination of dramatic coastal isolation within striking distance of the largest film market in the country. The black-banded white tower (1858) overlooks the Atlantic on one side and Great South Bay on the other, surrounded by preserved maritime forest and beach grass that creates a feeling of genuine remoteness. The restored keeper's quarters house a museum with period interiors. Fire Island is accessible via ferry from Bay Shore or by bridge at the western end near the lighthouse. NPS manages commercial permits through Fire Island National Seashore. The site's accessibility from New York makes it a practical choice for productions wanting a raw coastal character without traveling far. Great for period pieces, thrillers, and any story needing authentic 19th-century maritime atmosphere.

Where you'll be