Ep. 14 Terrible Tilly: The Deadliest Lighthouse in America

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You guys, I cannot believe I haven’t told you about Terrible Tilly yet. This lighthouse off the Oregon coast is absolutely insane - and I mean that in the most terrifying way possible. We’re talking about Tillamook Rock Lighthouse, but everyone calls it Terrible Tilly because, honestly, what else would you call a place that’s basically a death trap perched on a rock in the middle of the Pacific Ocean?

So picture this: it’s 1879, and someone thought it would be a brilliant idea to build a lighthouse on this tiny, wave-battered rock that’s constantly getting demolished by 100-foot waves. The construction alone killed multiple people, and that was just the beginning. The lighthouse keepers who got stationed there? Let’s just say their job description should have included “must be okay with potential death by giant wave or complete mental breakdown.”

I’m talking about keepers getting swept into the ocean, supply boats that couldn’t even reach the rock for months at a time, and storms so intense that waves would crash over the entire 130-foot structure. These guys were literally trapped on a rock with no way off, watching the ocean try to kill them every single day. And the stories of what happened to some of these keepers… honestly, you’re going to need to hear this.

Trust me, after this episode, you’ll understand why Terrible Tilly earned its nickname and why it’s considered one of the most haunted and dangerous lighthouses in America. This is lighthouse horror at its absolute finest.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

**RESOURCES FOR FACT-CHECKING & REFERENCE:**

- Oregon Historical Society Archives

- U.S. Lighthouse Service Records

- Coast Guard Historical Records

- Maritime Accident Reports (1879-1957)

- University Research Papers on Tillamook Rock

- Local Newspaper Archives (1879-present)

• Paranormal Investigation Reports (2000-present)

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