Cape San Blas Lighthouse a top summer destination

CAPE SAN BLAS, FL - What a difference a tower can make.

Since the St. Joseph Bay Historical Society reopened the Cape San Blas lighthouse tower last September, visitors have arrived in record numbers.

Beverly Mount-Douds, who mans the lighthouse's Sleeping Beauty gift shop, reported over 2,000 visitors in July, with 518 climbing the tower.

Two weeks ago, 430 visitors paid a visit, with 100 climbing the tower's 131 steps.

Asked if the tower is responsible for the increased foot traffic to the lighthouse grounds, Mount-Douds answered definitively.

"Since that tower opened, you better believe it," she said. "We did good last year, but opening the tower in September has increased this a lot."

Last Friday, Mount-Douds celebrated National Lighthouse Day by greeting a steady stream of visitors inside the gift shop, one of two restored lighthouse keepers' quarters.

"Where ya'll from?" Mount-Douds asked a group of 11 as they perused the gift shop's offerings.

"Chicago, Illinois," was the answer, but Mount-Douds probed deeper.

"Your voice tells me you're from somewhere else," she said, and was delighted to learn that the group hailed from Poland.

Mount-Douds recorded this bit of trivia in her spiral notebook, which revealed recent visitors from Texas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia and even Sweden.

When the Polish Chicagoans paid their $5 to climb the tower, Mount-Douds radioed her son, Frank Perry.

Stationed in a rocking chair on the porch of the keeper's quarters next door, Perry collects tickets and keeps an eye on the tower.

Volunteer Bob Sperling suggested the walkie-talkies after leading tours last summer.

The gadgets allow Mount-Douds and her son to keep up with paying customers and report on storms gathering in the horizon.

When there's lightening, all tours of the tower cease.

As the sky darkened over the beach last Friday, Mount-Douds buzzed Perry with a weather report.

"This happens and it blows right over and 30 minutes we're open again," said Mount-Douds, adding, "When the lightning starts, we really have to watch it."

Mount-Douds has enjoyed her work in the gift shop, which occasionally doubles as an office when an historical society or genealogy project requires her attention.

She likes meeting new people, especially the young adventurers who make the long climb to the lighthouse's uppermost deck.

"I love to see a kid's face when they come off that tower," said Mount-Douds. "Then they've just got to have that magnet."

Mount-Douds points to a magnet featuring an image of the Cape San Blas lighthouse with the slogan, "I climbed 131 steps into history."

The magnets, like the lighthouse T-shirts, note cards, charms and other memorabilia, are going quickly. Mount-Douds makes a mental note to order more.

It's busy at the lighthouse.

Cape San Blas Lighthouse Summer Hours - (All times Eastern)

• Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Saturday – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Sunday – 1-6 p.m.

The tower is open for climbing on Friday, Saturday and Sunday only. Admission is $5 for adults, with kids under 10 climbing for free.