Vanderbilt Cup Races

-The location of the Mystery aerial
Willie K’s Eagle’s Nest in Northport

-The golf course
WKV’s private golf course on the property…tee offf from the top of the Hall of Fishes!

-The major buildings
The main mansion, hall of fish, garage and the tennis courts are where the current planetarium is located.

-What is the estimated date of the aerial?
Hall of Fish was built around 1922 and difficult to tell from the photo if the second level was built yet. The memorial wing has yet to be built for the death of his son in 1933. I’ll take a guess at 1927 since many Fairchild aerials seem to have come from around that year.

Just realized this photo was used previously in May 2017. Our guess on the year then, 1930

https://www.vanderbiltcupraces.com/blog/article/mystery_friday_foto_19_a_famous_long_island_estate

Eagles Nest. Summer residence of William k Vanderbilt in Centerport NY
(See photo)
1) salt water pool (now filled in)
2) golf course
3) marine museum and 1st hole tee from the roof
4) carriage house / garage
5) mansion
6) boat house
7) corithian columns
8) power house
9) rose garden and tennis courts
10) seaplane hanger

Photo taken in 1947

This is Vanderbilt’s private golf course at his Residence in Centerport Long Island overlooking Northport Harbor (Eagle Nest)

That would be the par 27, 9 hole private golf course on Willie K’s estate, Eagle’s Nest in Centerport, NY.  Willie and freinds would tee off from the roof of the building in the foreground, looking at Long Island Sound.  In 1999, Suffolk County restored the golf course as a public course (I don’t believe its still around however). 

Major buildings are the main house, boathouse, chauffer’s quarters and the Hall of Fishes. 

Circa 1940s. 

First pic is from “North Shore Country Homes”, other two are The New York Times of Oct. 24, 1999.

Location Centerport Long Island.
Golf course private course at Vanderbilt Estate
Buildings bottom left Mueseum of Vanderbilts world cruising.
Bridge which leads to the main gate tower to court yard
Large building the Eagles nest Vanderbilt Estate
Pier and dock for the Alva yacht
Semi circle of Roman coulums where I was photographed in my MGTF at a car show
Photo most likely in the 30s or 40s

Currently the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum

180 Little Neck Road,
Centerport, New York 11721

Willie K. Vanderbilt’s original estate golf course

Eagle’s Nest

I would guess 1948 is the aerial.

It is Willie K’ s Centerport estate Eagle’s Nest.

His Hall of Fishes, at the lower left of the first closeup, displayed his marine collections.  It’s roof was the tee for the first hole of the golf course.

The mansion itself is the building in the fourth closeup, while the fifth closeup is the Boathouse and the pier where he docked his yacht Alva.

It is Willie K’ s Centerport estate Eagle’s Nest.

His Hall of Fishes, at the lower left of the first closeup, displayed his marine collections.  It’s roof was the tee for the first hole of the golf course.

The mansion itself is the building in the fourth closeup, while the fifth closeup is the Boathouse and the pier where he docked his yacht Alva.

I believe the photo is prior to the 1935 Memorial Wing addition.

It is Willie K’s Centerport estate Eagle’s Nest.

The first tee was on the roof of his Hall of Fishes, in the lower left of the close up.  The main house is in the center, with the bridge that brought cars to the main entrance.

The Boat House and pier, at the top of the photo, is where he docked his yachts, the last being the Alva.

Verrrry interesting!  Making the assumption we’re looking north puts it on the Sound.  First shot was the Creek Club in Lattingtown; nope.  Next, Sands Point Golf Club; N.G.  On Peconic - Sebonac?  No.  Not on Great South Bay.  Hmm.  Love it!  Sam, III

That’s Willie K.‘s Centerport mansion “Eagle’s Nest” with its 10 hole private golf course. A full round of 18 holes was Par-60 requiring several holes to be played more than once. In addition to the main house, we can see the boat house, hall of fishes, carriage house, and tennis court but not the seaplane hangar which wasn’t completed until 1935. Therefore, I think I’ll guess the date to be around 1933.

Willie K’s summer home Eagle’s Nest on Little Neck Rd, Centerport, home of today’s Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium. Guessing 1930’s, the grass field of the former golf course remains today

Willie’s place in Centreport

The mystery photo inspired a walk! Nice to see the incredible amount of people there appreciating Eagles Nest that day.

Oldyweds! Ha! The mystery photo inspired our walk around….It was great seeing you there Howard! Surprising amount of people there enjoying Eagle’s Nest on Saturday. I was a little disappointed that the garage and ‘27 Lincoln were off limits though. Pete, the docent at the top of the stairs explained they didn’t have enough staff to put someone downstairs. I was getting stopped by museum staff and was asked if I knew you because of my shirt!

Howard, As several of the responders pointed out, the Eagle’s Nest complex was developed over several years. Vanderbilt acquired the property over a number of years with three separate transactions totaling some 42 acres, The first was a parcel of 20.25 acres acquired from Robert W. DeForest in May 1910. The second parcel, 6 plus acres, running along the northside of the DeForest acreage, was obtained from Mary Lawrence Post of Bayport in July, 1921. The third parcel, some 16 plus acres,  abutting the southside of the DeForest piece, came from the Van Iderstine family in December of 1927. Suffolk County acquired the property in 1949. It was first offered to New York State but Moses turned down saying it didn’t fit into his plans as a state Park.

No *WONDER* it looked so familiar!  Looking “north” to the Sound?  HA!  How about north-east onto Northport Harbor and Bay?  For a measly 45°, I blew it!  Glad you all had such a good time; I have enjoyed EN immensely over these many years.  Sam, III

Art, Steve,  The golf course had only 6 holes, 3 of them had 2 sets of tee boxes. Museum has at least one scorecard with celebrity names on it. Fore !!!!

Al, With the real estate transactions you detailed, do you have any further info about what firms or individual realtors handled those acquistions for Willie K? I know he was friends with S. Osgood Pell, whose real estate firm on 5th Ave was active even after Pell was killed in 1913 in an accident while crossing the LIRR tracks outside Long Beach. Any idea where I could find the real estate transaction details? Thanks!

Tom Padilla, Can’t help you with that. Got my info from the Suffolk County real estate office in Riverhead and Suffolk County atlases.