The top of DeTour Reef Light is older than the lighthouse under it. When the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers built the station on DeTour Reef in 1931, the 1861 tower, Fresnel lens and lantern assembly were moved out from the old Point DeTour Light Station, according to the state historical marker. The reef light stands about a mile off Point DeTour, where the St. Marys River enters Lake Huron.
One recent history gets the ownership date wrong. Northern Michigan History wrote in 2025 that “In 2005, ownership officially transferred to DRLPS,” the DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society. The marker text the society itself publishes says the group “restored the station in 2004, opened it to visitors in 2005, and took ownership in 2010.” Lighthousefriends puts the transfer ceremony in June 2010.
Why the light moved to the reef
The first light on Point DeTour came in 1848, built on shore in anticipation of the traffic the Soo locks would bring. The marker says that “as vessels grew in size,” the reef, which runs a mile out from the point in twenty feet of water, “became a greater shipping hazard.” In 1929 the Lighthouse Service decided to put the light on the reef itself.
The tower rises more than 80 feet above the water on a 41-foot wood crib and concrete pier. The marker says the station housed resident keepers, equipment and supplies in three stories. The Coast Guard automated the station in 1974 and declared it excess in 1997. The marker calls it “one of only six reef light stations in Michigan.”
The lens went to town
The Fresnel lens that ended up on the reef was made in Paris by Barbier, Benard and Turenne for $2,940.50, the society says. It came out in 1978, and the lens and its timing mechanism are now on display at the DeTour Passage Historical Museum in the village. Since May 15, 2012, an LED beacon has done the work, charged by solar panels.
Neighbors from DeTour Village and Drummond Island formed the preservation society in January 1998. By its 2004 newsletter it had been awarded more than $1 million in grants, and the restoration was done over 2003 and 2004. Upkeep is still by hand: the spring 2025 newsletter reports that all 876 panes of window glass were scrubbed inside and out by hand that year.
Sleeping on it
Public tours now run only “from time to time,” the society’s tours page says. The regular way aboard is a keeper stay, offered “from Mid-June through Labor Day” with boats out on Fridays and Sundays from DeTour State Harbor. The Keeper’s Room sleeps 2 and runs $500 a weekend; the Assistant Keeper’s Room sleeps 4 and runs $750. Guests must be over 12.
The society’s own advice on what to expect says “the largest duty is keeping the household batteries charged by keeping the generator fueled.” Its booking page says 2027 stays open at noon on Jan. 1, 2027. Until then, the closest you get without a booking is its old lens in the village museum.
Go See It
DeTour Reef Light, DeTour Village
- Hours
- No walk-up visits. Keeper stays only, with boat transport Fridays and Sundays; public tours run occasionally (DRLPS).
- Cost
- Keeper's Room (sleeps 2) $500 weekend; Assistant Keeper's Room (sleeps 4) $750 weekend (DRLPS). Weekday rates are lower. Ages over 12 only.
- Season
- Keeper stays mid-June through Labor Day (DRLPS). 2027 reservations open at noon Jan. 1, 2027.
- Drive
- From Marquette: 3 hr 26 min (204 mi) via M-28 E, to DeTour State Harbor
From the Bridge: 1 hr 3 min (59.4 mi) via I-75 N and M-134 E, to DeTour State Harbor - DRLPS
- 906-493-6609, PO Box 307, Drummond Island MI 49726.
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Sources, credits, and reporting details
Sources & accountability
How this story was reported
Editorial methodAggregation
Last verifiedOct. 5, 2026
Corrections statusNo material correction note is recorded on this article.
AI assistanceResearched and drafted with AI tools. Reviewed and approved by editor Keegan O’Brien.
Verification note: Sources read and checked Oct. 5, 2026.
Primary sources
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DeTour Reef Light Station Historic Marker — DRLPS (Michigan historical marker text)
Published Oct. 1, 2013. Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
[Chrome] "the DeTour Reef Light Station was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1931. The 1861 tower, Fresnel lens and lantern assembly were moved from the Point DeTour Light Station." / "Located where the St. Mary's River enters Lake Huron from Lake Superior"
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DeTour Reef Light Station Historic Marker — DRLPS (Michigan historical marker text)
Published Oct. 1, 2013. Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: Onshore station 1848 anticipating locks traffic; reef a mile out in twenty feet; 1929 decision
[Chrome] "Anticipating increased traffic as a result of the locks planned at Sault Ste. Marie, the U.S. Lighthouse Service built an onshore light station on Point DeTour in 1848. As vessels grew in size, DeTour Reef, which extends a mile from Point DeTour in twenty feet of water, became a greater shipping hazard. In 1929, the Lighthouse Service decided to replace the onshore light with a station atop the reef."
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DeTour Reef Light Station Historic Marker — DRLPS (Michigan historical marker text)
Published Oct. 1, 2013. Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: One of only six reef light stations in Michigan (marker's claim, attributed)
[Chrome] "DeTour Reef Light Station is one of only six reef light stations in Michigan."
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DeTour Reef Light Station Historic Marker — DRLPS (Michigan historical marker text)
Published Oct. 1, 2013. Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: Over 80 ft above water on 41-ft crib and pier; automated 1974; excessed 1997
[Chrome] "The tower rises more than eighty feet above the water and sits atop a forty-one-foot-high wood crib and concrete pier resting on DeTour Reef. The Coast Guard automated the station in 1974 and excessed it in 1997."
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DeTour Reef Light Station Historic Marker — DRLPS (Michigan historical marker text)
Published Oct. 1, 2013. Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: Station housed resident keepers, equipment and supplies in three stories
[Chrome] "The new station housed resident keepers, equipment and supplies in three stories."
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DeTour Reef Light Station Historic Marker — DRLPS (Michigan historical marker text)
Published Oct. 1, 2013. Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: CORRECTION (primary side): restored 2004, opened 2005, ownership 2010
[Chrome] "The DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society, established in 1998, restored the station in 2004, opened it to visitors in 2005, and took ownership in 2010."
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DeTour Reef Lighthouse, Michigan — Lighthousefriends.com
Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: Transfer ceremony June 2010 (corroboration)
[Chrome] "During the Great Lakes Lighthouse Preservation Conference held in June 2010, ceremonies were held to transfer DeTour Reef Lighthouse to the DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society."
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Shedding Some Light on the Lenses of the DeTour Reef Light — DRLPS
Published Sep. 15, 2012. Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
[Chrome] "The lens was manufactured by Barbier, Benard & Turenne Co. of Paris, France at a cost of $2,940.50" / "In 1978, the Fresnel lens was removed and replaced by a modern beacon. The 1908 lens and its timing mechanism are now on display at the DeTour Passage Historical Museum." / "On May 15, the U.S. Coast Guard installed an eight tier Vega VLB-44 LED Marine Beacon" / "powered by a 12-volt battery bank, which is charged by solar panels."
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Establishment Of DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society — DRLPS
Published Mar. 14, 2025. Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: Formed January 1998 by DeTour Village and Drummond Island civic leaders
[reader] "In January 1998, civic leaders from DeTour Village and Drummond Island, Michigan, met to form the DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society"
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Passages, Issue 6 (newsletter) — DRLPS
Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: More than $1 million in grants
[reader] "The DRLPS has been awarded over one million dollars in grant funds from various state, federal and private agencies"
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Seeing The Light: Detour Reef Lighthouse — Terry Pepper, Seeing the Light
Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: Restoration over 2003 and 2004
[reader] "to undertake the full restoration of the light station over 2003 and 2004."
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Passages, Issue 47 (newsletter) — DRLPS
Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: 876 panes scrubbed by hand
[reader] "All 876 panes of window glass were scrubbed inside and out BY HAND this year"
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Light House Tours — DRLPS
Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: Tours from time to time
[Chrome] "We also do tours from time to time. To be notified of upcoming tours when scheduled email: ToursAndKeepers@drlps.com"
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Staying On The Light — DRLPS
Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: Mid-June through Labor Day; boats Fridays and Sundays; room capacities; weekend prices; over 12
[Chrome] "Rentals are available each summer from Mid-June through Labor Day. Boat transport occurs Fridays and Sundays" / "Keeper's Room (sleeps 4) and the Keeper's Room (sleeps 2)" / "Keeper's Room: $500 (weekend)" / "Keeper's Room: $750 (weekend)"; [reader] "guests must be over the age of 12"
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Reserving A 2027 Keeper Stay — DRLPS
Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: 2027 booking opens noon Jan. 1, 2027
[Chrome] "To purchase a stay, come to this page on noon, Jan. 1, 2027"
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Staying On DeTour Reef Light: What To Expect — DRLPS
Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: Largest duty is fueling the generator; guests arrive at DeTour State Harbor
[Chrome] "the largest duty is keeping the household batteries charged by keeping the generator fueled."; [reader] "Incoming guests should plan to arrive at the DeTour State Harbor"
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DeTour State Harbor & Marina — DeTour Village
Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: Address 600 Ontario St.
[reader] "600 Ontario St., DeTour Village, MI 49725"
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Google Maps directions, Marquette to DeTour State Harbor — Google Maps
Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: Drive time from Marquette
Fastest route read live Oct 5, 2026: 3 hr 26 min (204 mi) via M-28 E.
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Google Maps directions, Mackinac Bridge to DeTour State Harbor — Google Maps
Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: Drive time from Mackinac Bridge
Fastest route read live Oct 5, 2026: 1 hr 3 min (59.4 mi) via I-75 N and M-134 E.
Additional reporting
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DeTour Reef Light: Gateway to Lake Superior — Northern Michigan History (Marisa Fancy)
Published Nov. 7, 2025. Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: CORRECTION (other coverage): says ownership transferred 2005
[Chrome] "In 2005, ownership officially transferred to DRLPS."
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DeTour Reef Light — Wikipedia
Accessed Oct. 5, 2026.
Supports: GPS of the light
[Chrome] geo 45.9489222; -83.9030500
Photo and media credits
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Detour Reef Light Station (October 2024).jpg (media 4123) — Wikimedia Commons / Notorious4life
Featured image record. Accessed Oct. 5, 2026. CC0.
Supports: Image credit and licence.
Commons file page metadata read Oct 5, 2026: licence CC0, author Notorious4life. Original 2048×1365; uploaded 2048×1365 (not cropped; downscaled only if wider than 2560). Viewed before alt text was written.
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De Tour Passage.jpg (media 4122) — Wikimedia Commons / Gpwitteveen
Accessed Oct. 5, 2026. CC BY-SA 3.0.
Supports: Image credit and licence.
Commons file page metadata read Oct 5, 2026: licence CC BY-SA 3.0, author Gpwitteveen. Original 3069×1186; uploaded 2560×989 (not cropped; downscaled only if wider than 2560). Viewed before alt text was written.
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Drummond Island Ferry.jpg (media 4121) — Wikimedia Commons / otisourcat
Accessed Oct. 5, 2026. CC BY 2.0.
Supports: Image credit and licence.
Commons file page metadata read Oct 5, 2026: licence CC BY 2.0, author otisourcat. Original 1386×644; uploaded 1386×644 (not cropped; downscaled only if wider than 2560). Viewed before alt text was written.
.jpg){kind=link}
