68 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • AUGUST 2019
PRESS BUZZ: DESTINATIONS MONTAUK:
By BRENDAN MANLEY
Few Long Island destinations are as
singularly impressive as Montauk,
the easternmost point in New York
State, located on the tip of the South
Fork.
As one stands at one of Montauk’s many
scenic spots, staring out into the
seemingly endless Atlantic Ocean,
it truly feels like you’ve reached the
end of the world. And honestly, that’s
just fine. There’s nowhere else you’ll
rather be at that moment.
“Montauk is a unique and important
hamlet in the Town of East Hampton,"
said East Hampton Town Supervisor
Peter Van Scoyoc. "With its vibrant
downtown business district immediately
adjacent to beautiful ocean
beaches, the largest commercial
fishing port in New York State, and
preserved open space that totals 70
percent of Montauk’s land mass, it
is a destination for East Hampton
residents and visitors alike.”
Already home to multiple native
tribes when the Dutch arrived in
the early 1600s, Montauk has a long
history as a colonial outpost, a center
for agriculture and seafaring, a playground
for the rich, and a strategic location
for the U.S. military. Claiming
more world saltwater fishing records
than any other port on the planet, today
it remains a bucket-list spot for
surf anglers and is home to the state’s
largest commercial fishing fleet. And
for the countless visitors who don’t
arrive with rod and reel, there’s also
miles of public space — including
long stretches of idyllic beach — just
waiting to be explored.
Since for most of us, it’s a fairly
lengthy drive to actually reach Montauk,
you’ll want to make the most
of your time there. Here are some
highly recommended hangouts:
HISTORY WITH A VIEW
No trip to Montauk is complete
without a visit to the Montauk Lighthouse
National Historic Monument
(2000 Montauk Hwy., 631-668-2544,
montauklighthouse.com), towering
proudly above Montauk Point. The
first and oldest lighthouse in New
York State (fourth oldest active in the
U.S.), it was authorized in 1792 by the
Second Congress, under President
George Washington, and completed
on November 5, 1796. It still aids
navigation today, while providing
visitors with breathtaking views of
Block Island and the Atlantic Ocean.
There’s also an excellent museum
inside its c. 1860 keepers’ house,
featuring historical documents and
photographs, whaling artifacts and
more, as well as a gift shop inside its
Conway Visitor Center.
But your exploration of Montauk
history needn’t end there. Another
essential stop is Second House Museum
(12 Second House Rd., 631-668-
2544, montaukhistoricalsociety.org),
the oldest structure in the area, built
in 1746 and expanded in 1797. Once
the home of one of three area shepherds
(each with their own house)
who collectively tended what was
once a vast pasture, Second House
now delights visitors with its tranquil
gardens and a museum focused on
local history, particularly Montauk’s
Native American past.
And for a truly unique experience
that fuses history with pop culture
and nature, spend a day exploring
Camp Hero State Park (1898 Montauk
Hwy., 631-668-3781, camphero.net),
occupying a stunning 754 oceanfront
acres, including a portion of the
former Montauk Air Force Station,
decommissioned in 1981. Conspiracy
rumors regarding the base have circulated
for decades — including tales
of strange Cold War-era time-travel
experiments conducted underground
in a vast network of tunnels
and bunkers — partly inspiring the
hit Netflix horror/sci-fi series Stranger
Things. You can see remnants of
the facilities today, notably a massive
radar tower that still stands, while also
enjoying picnic areas, a beach, and
trails for hiking, biking, horseback
riding and cross-country skiing, plus
world-class surf fishing.
The Montauk Lighthouse is the oldest in New York State. (GettyImages)
/montaukhistoricalsociety.org
/montauklighthouse.com
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
/camphero.net
