Photo by Rob Alway, Mason County Press/Alway Photography
MANISTEE — The Sable Points Lighthouse Keepers Association (SPLKA) has officially acquired the Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse. The organization, based in Ludington, now operates and preserves five Lake Michigan lighthouses between Manistee and Whitehall.
The acquisition is the culmination of a year-long collaboration with the City of Manistee.
“I am honored to be entrusted with the stewardship of the Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse,” said Jack Greve, executive director of SPLKA. “Our mission is to preserve and protect these historic beacons of the past, and we are excited to begin a new chapter with the Manistee community. We are deeply grateful to the (Manistee) City Council (members) for their trust and support in naming SPLKA as the concessionaire of this treasured landmark.”
The Manistee North Pierhead Lighthouse will undergo restoration efforts beginning this summer, ensuring its preservation for generations to come. These will include the installation of solar panels, a battery system, LED lighting on four floors, installation of handrails along the ladder system up to the lantern room, paint on the interior levels, removal of tripping hazards, installation of a small gift shop, and creation of a historical timeline.
The lighthouse was previously maintained by the Manistee County Historical Museum. Greeve thanked the members of the museum for their efforts which included fundraising efforts, limited tours, and repainting the lighthouse’s exterior.
SPLKA plans to open the lighthouse to the public for tours and educational programming during the 2026 season, offering visitors an opportunity to explore its history and views firsthand.
SPLKA also operates Big Sable Point Lighthouse, Ludington Noroth Breakwater Lighthouse, Little Sable Point Lighthouse, and White River Light Station and Museum.
For more information about SPLKA visit its website at SPLKA.org, email office@splka.org or call 231-845-7417.
________________________
Please Support Local News
Receive daily MCP and OCP news briefings along with email news alerts for $10 a month. Your contribution will help us to continue to provide you with free local news.
The easiest way is to sign up for an automatic monthly payment on Paypal. Click this link.
Alternative methods:
- We can send you an invoice for a yearly payment of $120, which you can conveniently pay online or by check. If you are interested in this method, please email editor@mediagroup31.com and we can sign you up. You can also mail a yearly check for $120 to Media Group 31, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454 (please include your email address).
We appreciate all our readers regardless of whether they choose to continue to access our service for free or with a monthly financial support.
If you would like to support MCP/OCP but do not wish to receive daily emails, please consider sending a contribution to any of the above methods or pay by Venmo (@masoncountypress).
_____
This story and original photography are copyrighted © 2025, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.
As the services of Media Group 31, LLC are news services, the information posted within the sites are archivable for public record and historical posterity. For this reason it is the policy and practice of this company to not delete postings. It is the editor’s discretion to update or edit a story when/if new information becomes available. This may be done by editing the posted story or posting a new “follow-up” story. Media Group 31, LLC or any of its agents have the right to make any changes to this policy. Refer to Use Policy for more information.
Please consider helping to fund local news. Mason County Press and Oceana County Press are available for free thanks to the generous support of our advertisers and individuals. Three ways to help us: Venmo: @MasonCountyPress; Paypal: MasonCountyPress@gmail.com; Mail a check to PO BOX 21, Scottville, MI 49454.
.jpg)
