The Peconic Bay Shopper and famous Waterfront homes on the North Fork

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The East End of Long Island has long been a getaway for the rich and famous. Since the 1980s the Hamptons have dominated the news as the playground for Manhattan’s who’se who. The mix of proximity to the City and the world’s best Ocean Beaches with great daytime (the most upscale shops and boutiques East of Manhattan, fabulous Golf courses and boating/fishing grounds) and night-time entertainment (famous restaurants and scenic nightclubs) still prove irresistable today.
But not that long ago, long before Allan Schneider put his very personal mark on the Real Estate market of the Hamptons, really since the 1850s, large Inns and Hotels dotted the North Fork from Orient to Jamesport… and industrialists like the Marshalls and the Cosdens built fabulous waterfront homes on the bluffs overlooking the Sound long before the fame of
the Hamptons. One of the local papers – the Peconic Bay Shopper – explains the relevance today of why these people choose the North Fork then.

Local historians discuss and show old pictures of these fabulous times. In the last issue of the Peconic Shopper Norman Wambach and others explain that the Cosdens (see the link right to a book by Mr Fleming of the Southold Histroical Society) and the Marshalls were here for the same reasons people now flock to the North Fork: fabulous waterfront properties and some of the most beautiful sunset views over the water from high cliffs, reminiscent of Central America’s ocean coasts, great boating (some of our seafarer’s towns such as Greenport and Orient helped shape the economy we as we know it in America), some of the nation’s best Golf courses, and most important – respect for each other’s privacy.

Quietly, famous artists such as Paul Taylor have spent their summers for years alongside people like fashion guru Robert Verdi who just I heard closed on a contemporary North Fork Soundfront home in May of this year ($2,395 Million).
Most of the North Fork’s best Waterfront homes are well hidden – which should come as no surprise given the low-key preferences of most North Forkers. Given the North Fork’s relatively small size, the waterfronts are spectacular, surround the entire peninsula and are usually still close to shops and restaurants. Some of our waterfront properties on the North Fork are on the Peconic Bay side, looking towards the Hamptons or Shelter Island…and Cutchogue’s Nassau Point is probably home to one of the area’s most spectacular Bayfront Bluff properties. But the beach along Indian Neck in Peconic is another spectacular hidden gem – where Lewis Bacon – who also owns Robin’s island – purchased a large estate.
The Long Island Sound-side of the NOrth Fork provides either high bluffs and sunsets over the water unparalelled in the North Eastern Coastline on the US, and at two places low beaches -hence the comparison of McCabe’s and Kenney’s Beach areas to Westhampton Beach. At two places the Sound beaches open up at Goldsmith Inlet in Peconic and at Mattituck Inlet – home of the Old Mill Inn.

One of the North Fork’s oldest watering holes (with Greta van Susteren as investor – she’s been seen bar tending as it is whispered…).
It is said that Blue Man group members exchanged their property on Town Creek in Southold for a larger one – and are currently in the process of selling a beautifully restored historic home – right on the creek, with its own dock.
Creeks and inlets are another form of waterfront property – most popular with boating enthusiasts and fishermen… some of these creekfronts come with docks and protected landing spaces for your boats – even boat captains in the 18th century were looking for protection of their ships at North Fork coves and inlets against inclement weather.
Some Creekfronts are now for sale at very affordable prices – let Town and Country agents help you find the right one.
Contact our Town and Country Real Estate agents who are carefully selected and experienced specialists to help you find or sell the perfect waterfront on the North Fork and help you navigate the shoals of waterfront buying and selling…