NORTH CAROLINA - An abandoned Coast Guard station in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean has found a second life as one of the country's most unusual vacation rentals, drawing adventurous travelers willing to journey hours offshore for the experience.
Once a Coast Guard Light Station that safeguarded vessels through the treacherous shallow water of the Frying Pan Shoals, the retired platform has now been called the world's most dangerous overnight stay.
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Located roughly 32 miles off the North Carolina Coast, the Frying Pan Tower was decommissioned, and the iconic platform has since been reborn as a remote getaway for overnighters looking to spend the night hanging high above the shark-infested waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
The tower lies in part of North Carolina's infamous "Graveyard of the Atlantic" that has challenged mariners for centuries. Dating back to 1854, lightships staffed around the clock guided vessels through the dangerous waters until a permanent replacement arrived a century later.
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Completed in 1964, the Frying Pan Shoals Light Station replaced the aging lightship with a steel platform modeled after a "Texas Tower" offshore drilling rig. The former Coast Guard station served as both a home for its crew and a critical navigational beacon for decades, according to FPTower Inc.
As satellite navigation and radar made offshore light stations increasingly obsolete, Frying Pan Tower was automated in 1979 and officially decommissioned by the U.S. Coast Guard in 2004.
Rather than being dismantled, the tower was purchased at auction in 2010 by Richard Neal, who transformed the former Coast Guard station into a nonprofit-supported restoration project. Today, the organization maintains the historic structure while promoting marine conservation, scientific research and one of the country's most unusual overnight stays.
While it's not exactly the ideal honeymoon location, you can guarantee there won't be another couple sat beside you ready to ruin your vacation.
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One of the biggest perks of staying at Frying Pan Tower comes at the beginning and end of each day: uninterrupted sunrises and sunsets over the Atlantic, with no buildings or shoreline to block the view.
A viral social media post on TikTok from a local charter boat captain showcased just how a group of visitors made it to the remote overnight stay.
A stay at Frying Pan Tower costs more than $500 per person per night, and getting to Frying Pan Tower is part of the adventure. After an hours-long boat ride offshore, guests are lifted nearly 80 feet above the Atlantic in a basket or sling before stepping onto the platform, where they spend at least two nights in accommodations that still reflect the tower's military roots.
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Guests stay in former Coast Guard quarters outfitted with twin and queen-size beds, fresh linens, towels and a shared kitchen stocked with basic meal supplies, while Frying Pan Tower staff remain onsite throughout each stay for safety.
Perched alone in the Atlantic Ocean, Frying Pan Tower has weathered numerous powerful East Coast hurricanes that have left their mark on the aged tower.
So, if you're planning a stay at Frying Pan Tower, it's worth keeping hurricane season in mind.
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Frying Pan Tower isn't your typical vacation rental, but that's precisely the appeal. From its former Coast Guard quarters to its panoramic Atlantic views, the offshore landmark offers one of the country's most unique overnight stays.
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