Sands Point Preserve

Location: Sands Point, NY

Size: 216 acres

Date of hike: Feb. 6, 2021

Sands Point Preserve is a historic estate with a handful of hiking trails and features everything from a massive castle to killer vistas of the Long Island Sound.  I learned about the pretty property while researching dog-friendly hiking spots to visit with my energetic 10-month-old puppy Aurora, who is an Australian Cattle Dog.  Needless to say, Aurora and I both enjoyed the preserve, despite a few inches of snow.  In fact, one could even say that we had a royally good time!  
 
Before exploring, I familiarized myself with the history and habitats of Sands Point Preserve, which has been called the "embodiment" of Long Island's Gold Coast era.  "The Sands Point Preserve embodies the grandeur and elegance that define the Gold Coast period of the early 20th century, when prominent American families built grand mansions on large estates as a summer retreat along the Long Island Sound," said the Sands Point Preserve Conservancy's website, adding that Sands Point was the "East Egg" in F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel, "The Great Gatsby."  The preserve's most popular attractions are Castle Gould, which is a 100,000-square-foot medieval castle that was modeled after the Kilkenny Castle in Ireland, and the Hempstead House, which is a 50,000-square-foot mansion with 1,500 rose bushes and has appeared in films like "Scent of a Woman," "Malcolm X" and "Great Expectations."  Its owners have included the affluent Guggenheim family, the U.S. Navy and Nassau County – the latter of which acquired it in 1971.  Today, the parcel is maintained by the conservancy, which hosts a bevy of activities such as mansion tours and cultural or educational programs, and the buildings and their expansive gardens are available for corporate and private events.  

The preserve's gated entrance is located on the north side of Middle Neck Road, just east of Harriman Drive and just west of Luckenbach Lane.  Upon parking, I found myself alongside the park's Great Lawn, which the conservancy describes as the preserve's "centerpiece."  Then I zeroed in on a large trail map posted in front of the clock tower on Castle Gould.  There are six different marked hiking trails – which range from half a mile to one mile in length – and they pass through natural and landscaped areas that have freshwater ponds, rolling fields and century-old stone bridges.  In addition, there are several self-guided tours (the history tour, a native wildlife and diverse environments tour, and the bird watching tour), which are available online in multiple languages including French, Japanese and Spanish.  "Each provides new perspectives on this beautiful site," said the conservancy's website.  "You can print out the guide before your visit, or you can follow it on your phone as you explore the preserve."  A trail map is on the conservancy's website and parking is $15.

The hike's highlights for me included the impressive Castle Gould and Hempstead House.  For those wondering, Howard Gould (the son of legendary railroad robber baron Jay Gould) apparently purchased the undeveloped land to build a castle in an attempt to please his wife, actress Katherine Clemmons, in 1900.  "But she was not pleased, and so he built a second mansion across the property: the Tutor-style Hempstead House," stated the conservancy's website.  "Sadly, their marriage ended in a divorce that played out in the press with Gould accusing Clemmons of having an affair with William F. Cody (also known as Buffalo Bill in Old West lore.)"  Although I couldn't enter it due to COVID-19 protocols, I read the house boasts a magnificent 60-foot-tall entry foyer and the completed estate needed 17 servants and 200 farmers and groundskeepers, according to Wikipedia.  Tours are $10 per person.

I also recommend checking out the preserve's beach area, which has some marvelous views of the Long Island Sound.  However, I should note that it's off-limits to our four-legged friends.  "Dogs are not permitted on the beach at any time," according to the conservancy's website.  In addition, I suggest seeing the Falaise, which is a French Norman-style manor home that was built atop the beautiful bluff by the son of a mining tycoon named Daniel Guggenheim, who bought the estate from Gould in 1917.  Tours are $15 per person.  And lastly, there is the Mille Fleur, which is a smaller waterside home built after Guggenheim's death in 1930.  Unfortunately, both homes are only reachable by guided tour and were closed on this day.

Regarding wildlife, the estate has everything from foxes to coyotes to raccoons and is a "particularly healthy sanctuary" for dozens of bird species, according to the North Shore Audubon Society.  Many birds reside there year-round, while others will stop off as they migrate with the changing seasons.  "The woodlands here offer an important refuge for breeding birds by providing secluded nesting sites and plenty of natural food resources," stated the conservancy's website.  There's also an apiary for all you lovers of honeybees.

In closing, Sands Point Preserve is certainly a must-see spot for all lovers of Long Island.  The trails are brief and ideal for leisurely strolls, so you don't need to be a hardcore hiker.  Just pull out your iPod, which I had oddly forgot, and go explore these gorgeous grounds.  And, of course, take a tour if restrictions are lifted.  Immerse yourself in its extravagance! 



No comments:

Post a Comment