ComplaintsforTybee Island Light Station & Museum

• Initial Complaint

  06/28/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Product Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  0n june 19 we visited the tybee island light station and museum,-brought our tickets and walked directly the 20-25 feet to the lighthouse. As soon as we were inside they told us we had to leave because of lightning. I did not see any lightning and the sky was clear. we drove 2 hours just to climb the lighthouse.I asked for a refund and was denied. they should not have sold us the tickets if they were not to let us in due to weather.It is like if you paid for a loaf of bread in ******** and they took your money but said you do not get the bread. We wanted a refund because they told us to leave-they failed to provide us what we paid for. could you help?

  Business response

  07/13/2023

  To whom it may concern,

  According to our cameras the man in question and his family arrived to purchase tickets at 1:33 PM, completed his purchase by 1:34 PM, and arrived at the base of the lighthouse and began his climb at 1:36 PM. We had unexpected lightning and thunder occur, he may not have heard it, but our process it to constantly watch the weather and begin closure when the nearest strike is 10 miles away.  The Tybee Lighthouse is the tallest structure on the island which make it a giant lightning rod.  We do get hit with lightning several times a year on average, and our goal is to keep our visitors safe at all times.  We began out closure with announcements on a bullhorn at 1:41 PM and he exited the tower at 1:49 PM. He was told by our employee, upon exiting the building and complaining about its closing, that we would re-open the tower for climbing as soon as the lightning had passed. He then responded that he almost made it to the top but was almost 70 years old and didn't want to climb it again, at which time he demanded a refund. More words were exchanged, he became belligerent, and fearing for her safety, he was asked to leave. He then proceeded to the ticket booth, were he once again demanded a refund, was told by two employees that we do not issue for them when we close the tower for lightning, that he was welcome to wait because we would most likely re-open it shortly, and he could climb then.  After this I have no record of him on our cameras.  We re-opened the lighthouse at 2:20 PM. We have no control of our weather and it saddens me that this man was more concerned with a refund than keeping his family that was climbing with him safe during their visit.

   

  ***** *****

  Executive Director

  Tybee Island Historical Society
  

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