Wings Neck …. 

a community in the Village of Pocasset and is part of the Town of Bourne, MA.

While we live in a rapidly changing world even here on Cape Cod, this slice of Cape Cod has remained much the same as when it was established in the 1800’s when Judah Wing purchased up the peninsula. Wings Neck itself is composed of  four neighborhoods: WinCove, Beacon Point, Winnepoc and Wings Neck, and the homes range from the traditional Cape Cod Cottage to the historic.

Homes rarely come on the market, as they are typically passed down in families. In fact the acclaimed book The Big House by George Colt  focuses on Colt’s grand family summer home on Wings Neck and the challenges but determination of keeping these treasures “in the family”. This residential area with private beaches and tennis courts does feature the Buzzards Bay Sailing School, a long time favorite in the area and is just a quick drive to some great but low key seafood restaurants, bakeries and pizza parlors as well as a robust but small neighborhood market.

Wings Neck Lighthouse

Located at the tip of Wings Neck Point, the Wings Neck Lighthouse no longer guides ship captains though Buzzards Bay and the Cape Cod Canal but it still commands some of the most fabulous views of Buzzards Bay and, in fact, from out in  the Cape Cod Canal looking inland, the Lighthouse is itself a most fabulous view. 

The first lighthouse was built at Wings Neck in 1849 when shipping, particularly related to the iron ore industry then key to the area economy, was in full swing. Following a fire in 1889 the structure was rebuilt and outfitted with a 1000 pound fog bell and a flashing light that stretched 12 miles out to sea.

The Cape Cod Canal was built and first opened in 1914, with a starting point just off the shore of Wings Neck. At this time the Lighthouse became even more important to navigation in the area up until 1943 when it was replaced with Cleveland Ledge Light located offshore at the entrance to the Canal shipping Lanes. Two years later the site was sold to private parties and today the Lighthouse is owned by the Wings Neck Lighthouse Trust.

Years after its sale and decommissioning, the site became listed  in the National Register of Historic Place in 1987, and is essentially a hidden piece of history along with many such other hidden gems along the shore of this sleepy but quintessential Cape Cod Town of Bourne.

Digi-Kn?w:  August 7 is National Lighthouse Day and Cape Cod celebrates 16 of ‘em!