Voyage to Frying Pan Tower: A beacon of maritime history and renewed purpose
FRYING PAN SHOALS, NC (WWAY) — More than 30 miles off the coast of North Carolina, in the midst of seemingly never ending ocean, sits a steel structure that one man, with the help of countless volunteers, is working to give new life.
Frying Pan Tower, originally built as a Coast Guard light tower to help mariners navigate the shallow waters of Frying Pan Shoals, stands tall in the Atlantic Ocean. Richard Neal, the current caretaker, shares insights into the tower’s storied past and its evolving role today.
“The tower itself came after literally about a century of boats being out here with lights on them bobbing around doing the same thing, keeping the ships from going aground and all the shipwrecks and things,” said Neal. “They finally realized they could utilize some of the design of Texas oil field platforms and just put a light on the corner and stick a bunch of young guys on here to keep the light on — literally.”
A full staff of Coast Guardsmen lived on the tower from 1964 to 1979 until the tower became automated. GPS and radar systems rendered the tower obsolete, leading to the Coast Guard officially abandoning it in 2004.
Frying Pan Shoals is a protected reef area, so the government decided against destroying or relocating the tower. They put it up for auction in 2010, which is where Richard Neal entered the picture.
“I realized after a few years that I basically bought my childhood treehouse. It’s just a big version. It’s not wood, but steel and a slightly different goal,” said Neal. “Instead of hanging out and looking at the stars, we do that, but it’s to take care of the mariners, show kids in school what sharks do underneath this. Just let the people know what it’s like to be out in the ocean where calm like this is just as common as 80-mile-an-hour winds two days from now.”
After owning the tower for several years, Neal opted to give up his ownership. The tower is now operated by FPTower Inc., a non-profit operated by Neal.
On a mission to restore, protect, and preserve, Neal has set his sights on ensuring the tower is around for generations. It serves as a hub for research, a beacon to keep mariners safe, and a place to come and adjust your outlook.
“We have occasion to participate in a rescue, divers that have nearly drowned, boats that have caught on fire, people that have had medical emergencies,” said Neal. “Then we’ve had the opposite — we’ve had weddings on the helipad. They’ve gone on and you just — ah! It’s just an amazing thing.”
Frying Pan Tower stands not just as a historical monument but as a living testament to resilience and adaptability, showcasing the intersection of human ingenuity and the vastness of the ocean’s challenges.
WWAY’s Sydney Bouchelle and Hannah Patrick took part in a Voyage to Frying Pan Tower to share stories about the tower, its restoration, and more. Tune in to WWAY News at 6 pm from March 19 to March 21 to see their stories.
If you have photos of Frying Pan Tower you’d like to share, email them to newsroom@wwaytv3.com.
