MOUNT NEBO, W.Va. (DayTripper) — Did you know West Virginia has a lighthouse? It does — and Summersville Lake Retreat & Lighthouse in Mount Nebo will host the annual Lighthouse Festival on Aug. 8, 2026, with free admission and a full slate of family-friendly activities.
The Summersville Lighthouse is a distinctive 104-foot-tall steel tower constructed using components from a repurposed wind turbine, giving the structure a unique industrial character. Visitors climb 122 steps to reach the observation deck for a 360-degree view of Summersville Lake and the surrounding area. The lighthouse is a landmark that combines repurposed technology. A U.S.-registered lighthouse completed in 2013, it is open year-round for tours and serves as a navigational aid for the airport and helicopter operations in the region. Its rotational beacon casts a 30-mile-long beam of light, guiding pilots and adding to the structure’s prominence as a landmark along Summersville Lake.
The festivities begin at 10 a.m., featuring West Virginia’s only working lighthouse, with live music, raffles, food trucks and craft vendors, with proceeds going to local charities.
The Summersville Lighthouse Festival was established to honor National Lighthouse Day and celebrates the community of West Virginia’s only working lighthouse. The event takes place at Summersville Lake Retreat & Lighthouse, 278 Summersville Lake Rd., Mount Nebo, W.Va.
Get out and enjoy the Lighthouse Festival at Summersville Lake Retreat & Lighthouse for affordable fun, family activities and charitable benefits. You don’t have to hit the beach to see a lighthouse — there’s plenty to enjoy right here in West Virginia.
