Patchogue River Lighthouse

Patchogue River Lighthouse, also known as Sandspit Lighthouse, stands at the end of the rebuilt jetty at Sandspit Marina, where the Patchogue River meets Patchogue Bay in the Village of Patchogue. The 22-foot solar-powered lighthouse serves as a navigational aid for recreational boaters, ferries and other vessels entering and leaving the river.

The current lighthouse was completed in 2019 as part of a major reconstruction of the Sandspit Marina jetty. Although the structure is relatively new, it continues a local tradition of marking the entrance to the Patchogue River that dates back to the 1930s.

A Lighthouse at the Entrance to the Patchogue River

The Patchogue River has long been an important commercial and recreational waterway connecting the village waterfront with Patchogue Bay and the Great South Bay. Boats using the river must pass between jetties and navigate a changing entrance affected by storms, currents and shifting sand.

A navigational light was established at Sandspit Marina during the 1930s. Over the years, the original structure and its lighting equipment were damaged by severe weather and repeated exposure to the bay. Local boat operators, ferry companies and residents continued to rely on the light as they traveled between Patchogue and the Fire Island communities.

Damage from Superstorm Sandy

Superstorm Sandy severely damaged the Sandspit Marina area and virtually destroyed the existing jetty in 2012. The damaged jetty allowed sand to move into the mouth of the river, creating navigation and maintenance problems for boats using the entrance.

Rebuilding the jetty became part of a larger waterfront improvement project involving the Town of Brookhaven, the Village of Patchogue, New York State and federal partners. The project included improvements to the jetty, public access features and the construction of a new lighthouse.

The 2019 Lighthouse

The present Patchogue River Lighthouse is a white, tapered tower approximately 22 feet tall. It is solar powered and unmanned, allowing the beacon to operate without a permanent keeper or electrical connection to the mainland.

The new lighthouse was funded through a combination of state, federal, town and village support. The overall Sandspit project cost approximately $1 million, including the reconstruction of the jetty. New access improvements included a ramp and railings leading toward the lighthouse, making the waterfront destination easier for visitors to reach.

A Working Navigational Aid

Patchogue River Lighthouse has both a practical maritime purpose and a scenic role on the village waterfront. Its flashing red beacon helps identify the entrance to the river for boaters approaching from Patchogue Bay, including recreational sailors and ferry captains serving Fire Island.

The lighthouse is not a traditional historic light station with a keeper’s house, lantern room open for tours or museum exhibits. Instead, it is a modern private aid to navigation designed to support safe passage while also serving as a recognizable landmark at Sandspit Marina.

Visiting Patchogue River Lighthouse

The lighthouse can be viewed from Sandspit Park, the marina and the surrounding Patchogue waterfront. A public ramp and railing provide access along the jetty, although visitors should remain aware of changing weather, slippery surfaces, fishing activity and any temporary restrictions.

Sandspit Marina is also the terminal for ferries serving Davis Park and other Fire Island destinations. Visitors can combine a view of the lighthouse with the park, the ferry terminal, the Patchogue River waterfront and the restaurants and shops of downtown Patchogue.

Patchogue River Lighthouse and the South Shore

Patchogue River Lighthouse is one of the newer maritime landmarks on Long Island, but its role reflects the continuing importance of the South Shore’s waterways. The lighthouse connects Patchogue’s working waterfront with the ferry routes, marinas, beaches and barrier-island communities of the Great South Bay.

Its reconstruction also illustrates how coastal communities can restore storm-damaged infrastructure while improving public access. Today, the lighthouse provides a useful aid to navigation and a memorable focal point for the revitalized Sandspit waterfront in Suffolk County.

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Patchogue River Lighthouse

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Key Facts & Details

Feature	Details
Official name	Patchogue River Light
Common names	Patchogue River Lighthouse and Sandspit Lighthouse
Type	Modern private aid to navigation
Location	End of the jetty at Sandspit Marina
Community	Patchogue
County	Suffolk County
Waterway	Patchogue River, Patchogue Bay and the Great South Bay
Original local light	Established at Sandspit Marina during the 1930s
Current lighthouse completed	2019
Construction project	Reconstruction of the Sandspit Marina jetty and waterfront improvements
Project cost	Approximately $1 million for the overall jetty and lighthouse project
Cause of reconstruction	Severe damage from Superstorm Sandy in 2012
Tower height	Approximately 22 feet
Tower color	White
Power source	Solar powered
Light characteristic	Flashing red light approximately every five seconds
Focal-plane height	Approximately 18 feet above mean high water
Primary purpose	To guide recreational boaters and ferries into and out of the Patchogue River
Nearby ferry service	Ferries to Davis Park and other Fire Island communities
Current status	Active navigational aid and waterfront landmark
Public access	Viewable from Sandspit Park and the marina jetty; access may be affected by conditions or temporary restrictions
Coordinates	40.74653, -73.01603
Historical source	Fire Island News
Long Island Lighthouses	How many lighthouses are on Long Island?

Patchogue River Lighthouse is a modern beacon with roots in a much older Sandspit maritime tradition. The current 22-foot solar-powered lighthouse was completed in 2019 after Superstorm Sandy damaged the original jetty and helped restore a navigational landmark at the entrance to the Patchogue River.Located beside the ferry terminal at Sandspit Marina, the lighthouse remains both a working aid to navigation and a popular waterfront landmark. Its position connects the Village of Patchogue with the ferries, marinas and barrier-island communities of the Great South Bay.