It’s been a summer project for Dana-Jo Burdett and Corey Eyolfson.
The Lundar couple can see the light at the end of the tunnel on their facelift of the well-recognized lighthouse cabin in Sugar Point.
It’s been a labour of love for Burdett and Eyolfson, who have spent every weekend and every other weekday evening at the distinguished property since the spring of 2023.
The couple bought the cabin on April 15, after selling its previous owner on their plans to renovate the 1,200-square-foot space, which was unused for the most part and rarely maintained before they took over.
“It was pretty dormant,” Burdett said.
“It was used for the last couple of years for recreational purposes. The investment that was needed wasn’t put into it, and we had a vision to give it a new life, a new beginning.”
Eyolfson added, “It’s always been a bit of a landmark out there.
“We actually reached out to the guy that owned it; it wasn’t even for sale. It looked like he wasn’t really using it; he had some people renting it, and it needed some maintenance — it wasn’t getting maintenance — we both like projects, and we’re both handy people, so we just thought it would be an awesome side-gig to buy out, reno it, use it and rent it.”
Eyolfson and Burdett have since poured $20,000 and more than 500 hours of labour — outside of their day jobs — into their new property, redesigning the kitchen and giving the lone bathroom a makeover. New appliances and a new metal roof are on the way this fall. They hope to put the finishing touches on the cabin by the end of October, certainly before the snow begins to fly.
Once completed, the couple hopes to open the lighthouse as a prime destination for a short-term vacation rental.
“This is an extension of our home, so we’re putting in the same quality and effort that we’ve put into our own home and we’re excited to be able to share that with others,” Burdett said. “It’s not a slapped-together cabin.”
The picturesque lot rests 100 feet wide and 200 feet long, with 50 feet of beach. The lighthouse stands four stories high and includes a lookout on the top level, cathedral ceilings, two bedrooms (and a loft) and one bathroom. The cabin is also just a stone’s throw away from Lundar Beach Provincial Park, which Burdett and Eyolfson hope is an attraction for prospective renters.
The lighthouse cabin was initially designed and built in 1988 by architect Gerald Korzeniowski and his wife Bonnie, along with her sister Dorene Petersen and husband Dick. The quartet owned the property until 2001. There have been three different owners since that time.
Fortunately for Burdett and Eyolfson, the lighthouse is about a three-kilometre drive away, making it an ideal destination for keeping on top of maintenance and for their use from time to time.
“So far, we’ve used it as a bit of an extension of our backyard. We’ll go start a fire in the evening or we’ll hang out. I like it more than I thought I would,” Eyolfson said.
“It has grown on us. It’s our little baby.”
The couple hosted an open house at the cabin on Sept. 2 to give those interested a preview of the newest version of the lighthouse. They said it’s something they may do annually for anyone interested in renting.
