About Cape Enrage
Cape Enrage is a light station located on the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada. The Bay of Fundy is officially one of the Marine Wonders of the World with tides rising as much as 53 vertical feet over a 12-hour period twice each day. Cape Enrage offers one of the most spectacular views of the natural phenomenon from its towering cliffs and has been a light station and fog alarm since 1838; the current light tower is over 150 years old.
In 1992, a group of students from a local high school began the process of restoring the partially-abandoned station and to preserve, protect and promote the site as a tourism destination and an educational setting. From 1993, when there were six students working for eight weeks doing painting and scraping on the exterior of the old keepers' dwelling, the project has grown to employ 20 or more students annually for 20 summer weeks offering a diverse experience for all visitors. A small restaurant in the keepers' dwelling, day adventure consisting of rappelling, climbing, self-guided hikes, initiative games, obstacle course and kayaking, eduventure programs for youth and multi day adventure packages for adults are now available from May through August and by appointment in the off-season. Customized itineraries are our specialty for groups of all types and ages and may include all or any of the day adventures. We also provide various modes of accommodations and we do serve meals at the restaurant. The Whistle House gift shop opened in 1999 featuring professional artisan products largely from the local region. Take a walk to the fossil-rich ocean floor down the beach stairway, hike our coastline, or simply enjoy the breathtaking natural beauty of the island. Greeters will remind visitors that there is a voluntary donation box on the site and contributions go directly to sustain the preservation project including student wages. Entrance to the site is by voluntary entrance donation of $4.00 per person or $9.50 per passenger vehicle. Busses are requested to pay $25.00 Donations greater than $10.00 may be receipted for income-tax purposes. Shareholders, directors and supervisors are involved in a volunteer capacity only.
Hours of Operation
Cape Enrage is open daily from dawn to dusk. Staff is available from 8:30a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For special requests, call us at (506) 887-2273, fax us at (506) 887-1800, or email Cape Enrage is open to the public year-round. However, services begin full operation on May long weekend (Victoria Day in Canada) and run until Labour Day.
Why the Voluntary Admission?
We take great pride in making the visit to this beautiful site available to all and we are very much opposed to requiring a mandatory entrance fee. We do, however, depend entirely on your generosity and cooperation to maintain this property and to pay the student wages that allow you to enjoy the Cape Enrage experience. To meet the required expenses for each season, we must raise $350 000 or more from the 35 000 to 40 000 visitors who will come here between April and October. That translates into $10.00 per visitor. Please keep in mind that the students are the ONLY people who receive wages. All deficits are covered by the volunteers who are dedicated to this project and our financial records are always available to the public.
We encourage those who wish to make sizable contributions to speak to our student office staff who will provide you with a charitable receipt..
It is with pride that we welcome you to Cape Enrage and we wish you to have a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Whether you just enjoy the scenery, walk on the beach, participate in the many adventure programs or eat in the fine restaurant, our staff will seek to serve you professionally. Cape Enrage is a project of students from many of the high schools in New Brunswick and universities in the Maritimes. Since 1993 they have adopted and restored this abandoned property and have sought to preserve it for your education and pleasure. Although all our students are paid wages ranging from $8>32to $12.40 per hour, the students who work here for the summer are relying on voluntary donations to help pay their wages. Your contributions are important to the whole Cape Enrage Project and we value your generosity. Ask our staff for help and information.
HAVE A GREAT CAPE DAY
For those finding us by means of internet, your contributions will help to perpetuate this effort to protect the historic lighthouse.
The Cape Enrage Project
During the many years that Cape Enrage was under the constant care of light keepers and their families, this property was shined, painted and mowed with the care typical of the high standards of the era. As automation swept in a new age of "keeperless" lights, nobody was here to maintain the physical structures and the grounds. By 1992, after several years of abandonment, Cape Enrage was officially ready for demolition - and unofficially, the process had already begun. In 1993, a small group from Harrison Trimble High School in Moncton assaulted the barricade of red tape and began restoring the historic property. By 1995, their efforts had resulted in the transfer of the property from the Canadian Coast Guard to the Province of New Brunswick. From 1996 to the present, the company formed from those early efforts, Cape Enrage Adventures Incorporated, has grown from six students to more than twenty, many of whom work from the beginning of May until September. Their goal remains the preservation, protection and promotion of this beautiful heritage light. Your presence, participation and donations are used solely for the students and their project.
Keepers Dwelling in 1992 when Cape Enrage Adventures first arrived was abondoned and in disrepair.
After restoration the Keepers Dwelling looked new again.
By 2000, the property offered stairs to the rich fossil beach, stairs to the lighthouse, a welcome centre, a restaurant, walkways, adventure, fine arts workshops, camps, clean washrooms, decks for relaxation and viewing, and bird watching observatory.
