Grand Manan shows off renovated Swallowtail Lighthouse

One of New Brunswick's oldest lighthouses has just gone through a significantrenovation.

Swallowtail Lighthouse in Grand Manan is scheduled for agrand reopening, more than 160years after it was first built.

The lighthouse, which is still operational but not run by the Coast Guard, was in need of serious repairs and there were fears that irreversible damage could occur.

But now all the shingles on the wooden structure have been replaced and the tower has been repaired.

Lightkeeper Ken Ingersoll saidhe didn't know if this day would come and is happy to see the lighthouse in tip-top condition.

"There's been a few fishermen actually tell me that, 'Ken, you can shut your light out because the building's so bright and white that you really don't need it.'"

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Instagrammers and Islanders rejoice: Revival of Swallowtail Lighthouse complete

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The cherished landmark had been showing its age after 160 years, but with a bit of elbow grease and an enormous amount of effort, the iconic structure has been renewed.

Two years of fundraising gave the lighthouse a new lease on lifewhat the project needed was money and expertise, not volunteers.

"If it's big, just throw enough money at it and it'll be fixed. Well, in this case, I guess that's true," said Ingersoll.

But renovating a lighthouse on a rocky cape wasn't easy.

The only way to and from the lighthouse includes steep steps, a wooden walking bridge and a path.

This meant that a Coast Guard helicopter had to fly all materials to the siteand haul all debris away from it.

Ingersoll said he's happy to see this lighthouse repaired as some historic lighthouses have been torn down and replaced with newer structures.

"A friend of mine [was]trying to save the lighthouse on Seal Island in Nova Scotia. It's the second-largest wooden lighthouse in Canada, and they're planning on tearing it down and putting the 75-foot aluminum tower up."