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Dec 25 - Dec 31, 2019 www.TheTownCommon.com Page 7

Discovering the Ultimate Hidden, Scenic Dining

Spot at the Newburyport Lighthouse

Why this special occasions destination is beacons above a typical dining experience

Article by Eric Hurwitz, @newenglandinfo. Story created on 11/12/2019.

Imagine climbing 55 winding stairs and

a six-foot ladder through a narrow hatch, en

route to an eight-foot in diameter room at the

top of a lighthouse to experience an unforgettable

romantic meal with a view.

The Rear Range Lighthouse -- also

known as Newburyport Lighthouse -- in

Newburyport, Mass. offers exactly that with

its dining room affording spectacular 360

degree panoramic views of the ocean, quaint

downtown Newburyport and the Merrimack

River Valley. Initially started in 1999 as a fundraiser

to support The Lighthouse Preservation

Society, the dining room at the Newburyport

Lighthouse is so popular that it is often booked

for months in advance. It’s also the only lighthouse

in the United States and possibly the

world that offers a dining out experience at the

top, according to Jay Hyland, president of The

Lighthouse Preservation Society.

As lighthouses historically stand out as

beacons of strength, security and solitude, so

does the dining experience at the Rear Range

Lighthouse. It’s just you and your significant

other snugly situated in this tiny private glassenclosed

room most popular for proposals,

anniversaries and birthday celebrations (there

have also been some very small weddings

here). Unless claustrophobic or acrophobic,

the sweat equity built by arriving at the top

of the lighthouse surely reveals one of the best

milestone event destination investments in all

of New England.

“It’s like a walk-in closet but with million

dollar views,” said Hyland. “It is very relaxing

up here. People are satisfied and have that

Cheshire Cat grin.”

Diners make a $350 donation to support

The Lighthouse Preservation Society and

access the dining room for up to five-and-ahalf

hours. Customers get to choose a romantic

meal at the top of the lighthouse from one of

several local restaurants. This can be done by

making a reservation ahead of time. Angie’s

Food provides breakfast and brunch. Loretta

(regional American fare), Brown Sugar by

the Sea (traditional Thai Cuisine) and the

Starboard Galley (fresh local seafood) offer

lunch and dinner. The Mission Oak Grill

(high-end steakhouse, seafood specialties), and

Glenn’s Food & Libations (eclectic cuisine,

tapas) focus primarily on serving dinner. The

cost of the meals are extra from the donation

but at standard restaurant menu prices.

The five stories to the top have revealed

countless chapters of memories amongst those

experiencing dining at the lighthouse. So many

stories, in fact, that customers have written

about their unforgettable experiences in several

logs (next to the stereo and music selections)

perched above the dining room table...

Music and memories.

“One guy hired an airplane with a sign

‘Will you marry me?’” said Hyland. “He also

hired a limo and brought two dozen roses. She

wasn’t going to say no.”

There’s even a balcony for more unobstructed

views and once in a while some magical

colors in the skies...

“Another guy in his mid-20s was concerned

about the weather,” said Hyland. “I said to

him that in the summer you get to see short

(weather) systems go through and not to be

concerned. Plus, the weather patterns can

look very interesting from the top of the lighthouse.

I convinced him to go through with it.

Wouldn’t you know, there was a full rainbow

from end to end!”

The experience starts out with a greeting

by wait staff at the base of the narrow lighthouse

and then a brief pre-meal workout up

the stairs.

Starting the climb to the top of the lighthouse.

Steep, narrow staircase, but ultimately certainly

worth the effort...

A few significant others have the common

nervous anxiety before proposing but also with

no build-up to popping the big question. The

dining room and views are so nice, why wait?

“Lots of guys are nervous, getting ready

to propose,” said Hyland. “One such person

proposed the very moment he got up here. He

couldn’t wait!”

The beauty of the area in one of New

England’s most impressive seaport cities can be

seen at the top of the lighthouse whether water

views... or a scene of downtown Newburyport

that looks like a toy village...

Charming Newburyport.

Yankee Magazine calls dining at the

Newburyport Lighthouse as “One of the

top 35 destinations to make the ‘ultimate

to-do list for New England Travelers.’” The

Phantom Gourmet billed it “Most Romantic

and Exclusive Dining.” Fox 25 Boston said

of the dining there, “The most private and

exclusive dining space in New England.” And

Northshore Magazine stated in its review, “

Most romantic dining.” Chronicle on WCVB-

TV Channel 5 featured a wonderful segment

on the lighthouse dining experience in

Newburyport.

“We have a lot of locals come here but also

from around the world -- Japan, South Africa,

India, England,” said Hyland. “People find us

through word-of-mouth, through the Internet

or media.”

How the Dining Room at Rear Range

Lighthouse Started

Built in 1873, the Newburyport Harbor

Rear Range Lighthouse worked in tandem

with the Front Range Lighthouse 50 yards

away to helps ships and boats navigate correctly

into the area. Moving forward to 1961,

both lighthouses were decommissioned and

the Rear Range Light was sold to a private

party. Hyland remembers that many years

later local developer David Hall, whose father

owned the lighthouse, enthused about “having

lunch at the top.” The lighthouse bulb went

on over Hyland’s head and he asked Hall if he

could run the lighthouse as a dining out spot.

Hall agreed, and a new light in the form of a

dining out spot suddenly shone well above sea

level in Newburyport. The lighthouse has also

been repaired and repainted through the years

to keep things in excellent condition.

Hyland’s family supported his decision to

open the dining spot.

“When telling my wife, she said that anything

that brought in money was a good idea

as we didn’t have much,” said Hyland, with a

laugh. “Everything worked out well. Dining

here got more popular, I’d say about 15 years

ago. The rise of the Internet and social media

definitely helped.”

The Newburyport Lighthouse dining out

concept reflects well upon Hyland’s overall

passion for lighthouses. Hyland’s mission with

The Lighthouse Preservation Society is to

make lighthouse preservation and its heritage

a national issue. in the process, the Toledo,

Ohio, native has played an important role in

lighthouse history.

He has spearheaded a national effort to save

America’s lighthouses, aiding in the creation

of the National Lighthouse Preservatioon Act.

Hyland successfully lobbied for a congressional

hearing in the 1980s, leading to a

Coast Guard policy review. A recipient of

the Presidential Achievement Award from the

Federal Government to preserve lighthouse

heritage, The Lighthouse Preservation Society

has been involved in more Congressional hearings

as well as conferences, the sponsorship of

National Lighthouse Day and its celebrations,

the nomination of 30 U.S. lighthouse stamps,

and the raising of nearly $6 million for more

than 160 lighthouse projects.

Hyland holds a Bachelors Degree in communications

from Purdue University in West

Lafayette, Ind., and a Masters of Divinity

degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological

Seminary College in Hamilton, Mass. He

is currently enrolled in a doctorate program

at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in

church history. Now living in Dover, N.H,

Hyland looks at his involvement with lighthouses

-- including the dining room destination

at Rear Range Lighthouse -- as a blessing.

“God gave us a passion for things,” said

Hyland. “The scriptures say to commit your

way to the Lord and trust in him... This is

what I love doing.”

Conclusion

The perfect place for a special occasion.

Photo, courtesy of The Lighthouse

Preservation Society.

Big-time enjoyment surely comes from

what could be the smallest restaurant in New

England. While the padded benches, dining

table, music and a climate control system lend

comfort, it’s ultimately the incredible views,

outstanding food and one-of-a-kind destination

presence that make dining at the Rear

Range Lighthouse a must-try when visiting, or

living in New England. Plus, the Rear Range

Lighthouse is located just a few minute’s walk

from the heart of downtown Newburyport

with its beautiful Federalist-style architecture,

shops and restaurants. Newburyport,

the smallest city in Massachusetts, is definitely

one of New England travel gems. Just make

sure that the restaurant part of that visit

to Newburyport leads to the Newburyport

Lighthouse!

At 68-years-old, Hyland has no plans to

retire -- great news for those coming back to

dine at the Rear Range Lighthouse or firsttimers.

“You can’t retire when running a nonprofit,”

said Hyland with a smile. “And I continue

to enjoy doing this!”

Rear Range Light is located at 61-1/2

Water St., Newburyport, MA. Tel. 1-800-

727-2326.

The Lighthouse Preservation Society Web

site: http://www.lighthousepreservation.org

The Lighthouse Preservation Society

Dinner at the Lighthouse page: http://www.

lighthousepreservation.org/dining.php

Facebook fan page: https://www.facebook.

com/RearRangeLight/

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