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Spend a summer evening at Cape Henry Lighthouse with s'mores, ghost stories, and guided stargazing led by the Back Bay Astronomers. This military-base event at Fort Story offers a quiet, family-friendly night under the stars—open only to authorized ID and base pass holders.
Spend a summer evening at Cape Henry Lighthouse with s'mores, ghost stories, and guided stargazing led by the Back Bay Astronomers. This military-base event at Fort Story offers a quiet, family-friendly night under the stars—open only to authorized ID and base pass holders.
Book with Preservation Virginia
Verified experiences and guided adventures in the surrounding area.
Operated by Preservation Virginia · Virginia Beach, Virginia
On a summer evening at Fort Story’s curve of sand and surf, the Cape Henry Lighthouse becomes a classroom for the cosmos. Stargazing Camp Out with Cape Henry Lighthouse invites Military ID and base pass holders to bring blankets and curiosity to 583 Atlantic Avenue Fort Story, Virginia 23459, where Preservation Virginia staff and volunteers from the Back Bay Astronomers lead an evening of s'mores, ghost stories, and constellation hunting. The program runs from 7:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., offering a hands-on way to meet the night sky above the Atlantic and the low dunes of Virginia Beach. What makes this event distinct is its setting: Cape Henry Lighthouse sits inside the active military installation at Fort Story, so access is limited to authorized visitors under Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek–Fort Story (JEBFS) policy. Per JEBFS rules, only visitors with a Military ID, DoW card, CAC, or base pass may drive directly to the lighthouse; foreign nationals without Department of War security passes are restricted from visiting the Old Cape Henry Lighthouse. That security framework creates a quiet, controlled shoreline where families can spread out on the grass and focus on telescopes and stories instead of crowds. The evening is practical and procedural. Climbers must be at least 42 inches tall; adults cannot carry children up the tower. Preservation Virginia staff monitor conditions and will close the tower if the heat index inside reaches 115°F or if lightning threatens. Events may also be affected by winter weather advisories. Tickets include s'mores and guided astronomy; bring a lawn chair, flashlight with a red filter, and warm layers—the coastal breeze chills faster after sunset. Why go? There are few public programs that combine living history and practical stargazing on a working coastline. The lighthouse is part of the local recreation landscape at Fort Story and offers an unusual chance to learn constellations through hands-on telescopes under a very dark sky for Virginia Beach. Parents will appreciate the family-friendly pace, while amateur astronomers get the chance to compare views with local Back Bay Astronomers volunteers. Call 757-422-9421 or email [email protected] with questions or booking details. Plan to arrive early for base check-in and bring ID; the event starts at 7:30 pm; parking is limited. Use low-impact practices — pack out trash, keep light pollution low, and follow staff directions on where to set up. The meeting point is 583 Atlantic Avenue, Fort Story; if tower access is open it is guided only. This is a rare chance to spend a summer night where history, coastline, and stars meet — an accessible, focused night for military families and authorized guests who want to learn the sky, leaving with sticky fingers from s'mores and new star maps.
This event is open only to Military ID holders, DoW card holders, CAC holders, and base pass holders and their families.
Only visitors with an authorized Military ID, DoW card, CAC, or base pass are permitted to drive directly to Cape Henry Lighthouse.
All lighthouse tower climbers must be at least 42 inches tall; adults are not permitted to carry children.
Preservation Virginia will close the tower if the heat index inside reaches 115°F and will close during thunderstorms or when lightning is spotted; winter advisories may also affect openings.
ADA service animals are the only animals permitted on site; the final ladder to the top of the lighthouse is not accessible.
Call 757-422-9421 or email [email protected] for questions or booking details.
Preservation Virginia is a Richmond, Virginia-based organization that operates and interprets historic sites and educational programs across the state. The organization presents guided tours, hands-on workshops, documentary-style tours, and virtual programs that highlight Virginia’s colonial, revolutionary, and 19th-century history. Preservation Virginia’s portfolio of sites and programs includes Bacon’s Castle (built in 1665 and recognized as North America’s oldest brick home), the historic landing site at Cape Henry Lighthouse, Smith’s Fort with surviving earthworks and an 18th-century manor house, Patrick Henry’s Scotchtown—the remaining house of the famed orator—and the John Marshall House in Richmond. Programming spans in-person tours and remote learning: the John Marshall House offers a 45-minute tour; the Courtmaker Documentary Tour of the Marshall House provides an intimate look at family artifacts; the Beginners Genealogy Research Workshop at Bacon’s Castle is taught by genealogist Sarah Carson; and multiple virtual programs bring lighthouse history and Revolutionary War sea battles to students. Educational offerings also include the Augustus Hodges virtual program, focused on Willis Hodges—Cape Henry Lighthouse’s first African American keeper and abolitionist—and the Life of a Lighthouse Keeper kids program. Preservation Virginia’s events and tours emphasize primary sources, artifacts, architecture, and site-specific stories to connect visitors with Virginia’s past. All descriptions and program leaders are provided in third-person; visitors should consult Preservation Virginia’s official listings for booking and availability.
Book with Preservation Virginia