Beach Tale: Your Own Personal "Fantasy Island"

Remember the show with Mr. Rourke (played by Ricardo Montalbán) and Tattoo (played by Hervé Villechaize)? I can hear it now, “De plane!  De plane!” That announced the arrival of another guest to their Pacific Island where for a mere $50,000 (about $185,000 in 2012 dollars) the guest’s wildest fantasy would come true.  I’m not talking sexual fantasy here.  No, this TV after all, and back when the sensors were really strict.  This show was more about finding a lost love or being a big game hunter or being the MVP in the Super Bowl or something.

Of course it was called “Fantasy Island” for a reason.  Not because fantasies were being lived out, but because the entire premise was a fantasy. 

But what would you say if I told you that right now, in 2012, and for about $2,000 (and no, I didn’t leave any zeros out) you can have your fantasy come true.  Well, one caveat.  You can have your fantasy come true if your fantasy is to be a lighthouse keeper.  And not just any lighthouse, but the one on Rose Island, plopped in the middle of the Naragansett Bay (just off the coast of Newport, RI) with sweeping views of the bay and all the boats that sail there.   

Yup…this could be your home for a week:

Of course, the reality is you have duties as a lighthouse keeper.  You have to raise and lower the flag everyday and greet day visitors to the island and track weather info and work about 5 hours a day on a special project suited to your needs.  But the rest of the time is yours to as you please to roam the island or bask on the rocky beach. 

Nobody else lives on the Island, but sometimes guests stay on the lower level for the night and you have to share this bit of paradise.  Oh, and did I also mention it's only available by boat?  So those of you who get seasick, pray for a calm seas on travel days.  

Kitchen at Rose Island Lighthouse

And it’s not just a fantasy as a lighthouse keeper, but it’s also a fantasy to step back in time 100 years.  The entire lighthouse has been restored to 1912 standards.  This means no refrigerator (bring a cooler packed with ice), no electricity (a wind turbine provides a bit of light) which means to TV, and of course no shopping or other amenities.  You get to cook on an old potbellied stove.  A real Laura Ingalls Wilder experience!  But no worries about dying from thirst because you can’t figure out how to get the hand pump to work.  Bottled water is provided, but his is definitely a BYOW (Bring your own wine) experience.  And what an experience it would be!

I’m thinking that this would be a super romantic Valentine’s Day experience, don’t you agree?  If you’d like more information or would to book your fantasy island vacation, click here. http://www.roseislandlighthouse.org/keeper_options.html

If you go, be sure and send me a postcard!