New ownership announced for iconic Frying Pan Shoals Light Tower
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) –One of North Carolina’s most recognizable offshore landmarks is entering a new chapter after the nonprofit that helped restore and preserve the Frying Pan Shoals Light Tower transferred its ownership interests to a private owner.
The transfer means FPTower Inc. has ended its direct relationship with the historic landmark.
FPTower Inc. said this marks the beginning of a new chapter as it shifts its focus to maritime safety, marine science, environmental stewardship and educational programming serving coastal communities throughout North and South Carolina.
The tower was built in 1964 as a Coast Guard light station to help guide mariners around the dangerous Frying Pan Shoals, an area known for shallow waters and shipwrecks about 32 miles off the North Carolina coast. Coast Guardsmen staffed the tower until it was automated in 1979, and advances in GPS technology eventually made the station obsolete.
After the federal government auctioned the structure in 2010, restoration efforts transformed it into a center for preservation, research and offshore education.
Over the past several years, FPTower Inc. said it coordinated restoration projects on the structure, including rebuilding walkways, repairing freshwater systems, stabilizing structural components, upgrading electrical infrastructure, installing communications systems and expanding renewable energy projects.
Beyond preservation, the tower evolved into a hub for scientific research and education. The facility has hosted researchers, supported weather observation, served as a platform for marine science and environmental monitoring, and provided educational opportunities while continuing its role as a beacon for maritime safety. It also became a destination for eco-tourism, volunteers and visitors interested in experiencing one of the East Coast’s most unique offshore structures.
Maritime safety remains central to the nonprofit’s mission. Earlier this year, FPTower Inc. distributed remote-controlled U Safe rescue lifebuoys to coastal communities through its 2026 Save A Life Raffle, expanding access to water rescue technology and promoting drowning prevention.
“The tower helped create the mission, but the mission has now grown well beyond the tower,” said Richard Neal, chair of the board and executive director of FPTower Inc. “The practical safety skills we gained while restoring, operating and protecting one of America’s most unique offshore landmarks has prepared us for our next chapter. We are bringing that mission closer to shore to benefit coastal communities throughout the Carolinas through maritime safety, marine science and research, and educational programming.”
Although the nonprofit will no longer manage activities at the tower, officials said the experience gained coordinating restoration projects in one of the East Coast’s most challenging marine environments will help guide future partnerships with coastal communities, educational institutions, emergency responders and environmental organizations.
Future initiatives will focus on maritime safety, marine science, conservation and STEM education throughout the Carolinas.
“Our supporters made everything we accomplished possible,” Neal said. “Every donor, volunteer, sponsor, researcher, educator and visitor became part of something much larger than restoring a historic structure. Together, we demonstrated what passionate people can accomplish when they unite behind a common mission. That legacy will continue to inspire everything we do moving forward.”
No word yet on who now owns Frying Pan Tower.
