Barker, N.Y.- Nestled along Niagara USA's Lake Ontario shoreline, visitors can spend the night in a 136-year-old lighthouse

It is the site of famed shipwrecks, has a legend of buried treasures and is home to a historic lighthouse, that offers a unique opportunity.

Built in 1875, 30-mile Point Lighthouse was used to usher mariners navigating Lake Ontario's shoreline and now houses visitors looking for something different in terms of accommodations.

Located inside Golden Hill State Park, in the Town of Somerset, the 75-foot lighthouse structure, warned boaters of dangerous shoals and invisible sandbars found along the lakes coastline. Erosion and an increase in lake water levels forced the lighthouse into being decommissioned in 1958, and has since been preserved and converted into a museum and cottage.

The former living quarters of the lighthouse keeper, which are found on the second floor of the lighthouse structure, now stand as a vacation cottage complete with a fully-equipped kitchen, bathroom, private entrance, old-fashioned bathtub and pristine vistas of Lake Ontario.

You may not be required to tend to the lighthouse, but it will certainly give you a glimpse as to what life may have been like for 19th century lighthouse keepers.

The area of lake Ontario closest to the lighthouse, is historically famous for numerous shipwrecks and even rumors of buried treasure, which hasn't yet been discovered. French explorer LaSalle was one victim of shipwreck near 30-mile point, while the most infamous incident occurred in 1780, when a British Warship transporting thousands of dollars in gold and more than 80 soldiers and prisoners of war from the American Revolution from Fort Niagara to Montreal.

Much of the crew perished in the October shipwreck and local legend claims that in 1834:

 "Men rowed ashore from an anchored ship and unearth a chest from the creek bank. The secreted bounty, believed to be gold buried by the survivors of a shipwreck, was carried back to the ship, where the men raised anchor and sailed off."

Based on this tale told by a local farmer, treasure hunters have long searched the creek, which empties into Lake Ontario near Golden Hill State Park in search of additional treasures, which may have been left behind by shipwreck victims.

While a visit to Golden Hill State Park does not guarantee the uncovering of gold, a stay in the historic 30-mile-point lighthouse is certainly one of Niagara USA's hidden treasures.

For more information or to book accommodations at Golden Hill State Park and 30-mile point lighthouse click here.

Visit lighthousefriends.com for more info on the history of 30-mile point lighthouse

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