However, due to public outcry, the plans fell through, and the Coast Guard turned the station over to Tillamook County.

[5] The U.S. Coast Guard permanently switched off Cape Meares Light (LLNR 675) on Wednesday, June 25, 2014, as it is no longer considered necessary for safe navigation of the seacoast.

A number of rounds were fired, breaking 15 of the lighthouse's windows and several parts of the historic Fresnel lens.

Additional rounds were fired into a (no longer active) Coast Guard light and surrounding equipment.

While driving off the maintenance road the suspect vehicle also caused significant damage to a grassy area.

A park ranger stated that the lens was created in Paris in 1888 and had been shipped around the tip of South America to Oregon.

[7] Early news reports stated a $1,000 reward was being offered for information leading to arrests, a figure which was raised to $3,000 by the evening of January 11.

[11] The Cape Meares Light has served as inspiration for the lighthouse featured in the fictional town of Arcadia Bay from the 2015 narrative adventure video game Life Is Strange.