Connecticut
What It's Like To Spend A Night At This Offshore Connecticut Lighthouse
Growing up in coastal New England, I ranked lighthouses on par with sunblock and snowploughs — essential, ordinary, and totally lacking romance (my primary preoccupation). Only later did these storied structures, and their keepers, capture my imagination. What was it like to live at the edge of the world, guiding mariners to safety? To look out the window and see nothing but sea? When I met my partner and fell in love, my fantasy expanded: just the two of us, a cosy bed, and water, water everywhere, lulling us to sleep.
Last July, we were among the first-ever guests to experience an “Overnight at the Light” in the fully restored Greens Ledge Lighthouse, a mile (1.6 km) off the coast of the village of Rowayton, in southwestern Connecticut. For one night, we savoured the storybook beauty and seclusion of a historic landmark, 360-degree views of the water and shoreline, and the modern amenities of a hotel.
This lighthouse in Connecticut is a cosy place to spend the night
But first, lunch. Friends who live in the area urged us to try their favourite spot, the Rowayton Seafood Restaurant & Market, which is perched on the shore of the Five Mile River. The oysters and lobster rolls were so exceptional that we ordered a pair of steak sandwiches to bring to the lighthouse for dinner. Then we ambled down to the dock to meet our host, Tim Pettee, who helped us into his skiff and turned the bow southward.
Pettee is an investment advisor who lives in town. In 2016, when his teenage daughter learned that the federal government was auctioning off their own local icon — Greens Ledge Lighthouse has guided sailors since 1902 — she urged him to place a bid. He offered $150,000 and won. “Then I had to figure out what to do with it!” he said, laughing.
“We brought our steak sandwiches and a cold bottle of Chardonnay out to watch the sunset; afterwards, the darkness felt thick and ancient.”
Listed by the National Register of Historic Places as “deteriorated” — just one rung above “ruins” — the building needed a lot of work. To raise funds, Pettee, his son, and several friends founded a nonprofit, the Greens Ledge Light Preservation Society. In 2023, after five years of meticulous restoration, they opened to the public, offering tours, private parties, and overnight stays.
As we neared the lighthouse, I marvelled at the stark beauty of the freshly painted red-and-white tower rising from the sea. Pettee pointed out the patio and two observation decks, each furnished with picnic tables and Adirondack chairs. With two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a fully equipped kitchen, the Connecticut lighthouse can sleep six. (It accommodates non-overnight parties of up to 50.) Docking the boat, Pettee explained how to lower and raise the gangplank and where to find the swim ladder and paddleboards.
Pettee also showed us the solar panels that provide power and the desalination system that makes seawater drinkable. Then he headed back to shore, saying he would fetch us the following morning.
We changed into our swimsuits, dove off the floating dock, and swam around for a while, then rinsed off in the outdoor shower. We brought our steak sandwiches and a cold bottle of Chardonnay out to watch the sunset; afterwards, the darkness felt thick and ancient.
The next day, when Pettee came to retrieve us, I couldn’t decide which I’d preferred: drifting off to sleep to the sound of the waves or waking to the early morning cries of seabirds. Or how, viewed from the bed, the sea and sky through the windows were as perfect and wild as a Mark Rothko painting.
All currency conversions were done at the time of writing
Feature Image Credit: Green Ledge Light Preservation Society
This story first appeared on travelandleisure.com
Lighthouses Through Ages: Still Standing Tall, Still Telling Tales
Written By
Kate Bolick
Connecticut
Florida High School State Bronze Medalist Dajah German Verbals To Connecticut For Fall 2027
Fitter and Faster Swim Camps is the proud sponsor of SwimSwam’s College Recruiting Channel and all commitment news. For many, swimming in college is a lifelong dream that is pursued with dedication and determination. Fitter and Faster is proud to honor these athletes and those who supported them on their journey.
Florida high school state bronze medalist Dajah German has announced her verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Connecticut beginning in the fall of 2027. She publicized the news on SwimCloud, writing:
I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Connecticut! I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, my family, coaches, teammates, and friends who have pushed me to be my best throughout the years. And a very special thank you to Coach Chris and Coach Nicole for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I’m so excited for what’s ahead. GO HUSKIES!
A rising senior at Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida, German trains year-round with Swim Fort Lauderdale and primarily specializes in the sprint and middle-distance freestyle events.
German has improved each year of her high school career, most recently dropping from 23.78, 51.39, and 1:50.56 in the 50/100/200 free to 23.54, 51.35, and 1:49.69 during the 2025-26 short course season.
German’s top meet of the season was the Florida Senior Championships in March, where she recorded her current PBs in both the 50 and 200 free. She finished second in the 500 free (4:55.94) and 1650 free (17:02.78), third in both the 50 free and 200 free, and fifth in the 100 free (51.43). She set her current 100 free PB at a smaller holiday meet in December. In the 500 free, she clocked a season-best 4:55.21 at the Speedo Cup in January, with her lifetime best of 4:53.19 coming at the 2025 Florida Senior Championships.
German has qualified for the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Championships for the past three years, with her top performance coming at the 2025 iteration in November. She placed third in the 50 free (23.96), fifth in the 500 free (5:01.12), and helped Fort Lauderdale to fourth place in both the 200 free relay (24.64 leadoff) and 400 free relay (53.08 anchor).
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 23.54
- 100 Freestyle: 51.35
- 200 Freestyle: 1:49.69
- 500 Freestyle: 4:53.19
A Division I Mid-Major program, Connecticut competes in the Big East, with the women’s team placing second out of seven teams at this past season’s conference championships. German’s current lifetime bests would have placed third in the 200 free, fourth in the 500 free, eighth in the 50 free, and ninth in the 100 free, setting her up as an immediate contributor with two full seasons of training still ahead before her first conference meet.
German joins Anna Mumford, Lyla Devlin, Lena Brown, and Louisa Holda in committing to the Huskies’ class of 2031 so far.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
About the Fitter and Faster Swim Tour
Fitter & Faster Swim Camps feature the most innovative teaching platforms for competitive swimmers of all levels. Camps are produced year-round throughout the USA and Canada. All camps are led by elite swimmers and coaches. Visit fitterandfaster.com to find or request a swim camp near you.
FFT SOCIAL
Instagram – @fitterandfasterswimtour
Facebook – @fitterandfastertour
Twitter – @fitterandfaster
FFT is a SwimSwam partner.
Here are the forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 80. Light west wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A chance of showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 59. Southeast wind around 8 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
-
Boston, MA25 seconds agoRed Sox Star ‘Open’ to Trade Talks With Boston’s Season Spiraling
-
Denver, CO4 minutes agoDance Gavin Dance weighs ins on banana-suit controversy before Denver show
-
Seattle, WA9 minutes agoSeries win in Seattle shows how tricky this trade deadline will be for the Red Sox
-
San Diego, CA16 minutes agoCalifornia’s culinary superstars to gather at Michelin Guide ceremony in San Diego
-
Milwaukee, WI18 minutes agoMilwaukee Mayor Johnson says he’s not aware of FBI interviewing city election officials
-
Atlanta, GA23 minutes agoWells Fargo’s Long-Standing Commitment to Atlanta – SaportaReport
-
Minneapolis, MN25 minutes agoPolice investigate triple shooting near busy northeast Minneapolis intersection
-
Indianapolis, IN30 minutes agoSummer shows you can’t miss in and around Indianapolis
