We only wanted to see the lighthouse , but the gat...

We only wanted to see the lighthouse , but the gatehouse attendant informs us this is "PRIVATE PROPERTY" and we must pay for access to even have access to see the lighthouse or spend money at the local restaurants/gift shops.
One we got to Harbour Town the appearance was nice. Parking was difficult to find (busy weekend) , and a few extra signs for public parking would have been very helpful. That said .... there are a multitude of sings saying where NOT to park.
One we got to the area, it was picturesque and the small fleet of boats in the harbour was quaint. Then all the tourist barkers from the ticket booths began their spiel. Harbour cruises, dolphin cruises, pirate cruises, and many were already completely booked for the day, so that did not turn out as expected. The local shops had the typical tourist embroidered clothing, showing the Islands name, which was expected. The food seemed a bit expensive, and the general store was packed with so much clothing, one might feel claustrophobic trying to move around.
The lighthouse and the ruins were of interest to me, and even the light-house was monetized for access. At least the old tabby ruins did not have a separate entry fee. It seemed more like a country-club atmosphere, and the redundant signage for every golf choice only reinforced that feeling. The hose riding seemed like an interesting option, but I only discovered that by accident. Thus , the focus for this resort seems to cater to the country club-types, not the general middle-class Americans.