About
The six Vanderbilt Cup Races held on Long Island from 1904 to 1910 were the greatest sporting events of their day, and the first international automobile road races held in the United States. The races had a far-reaching impact on the development of American automobiles and parkways. This site provides comprehensive information on the races, the Long Island Motor Parkway and current Long Island automotive events, car shows and news.
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Co-Founder and Writer: Howard Kroplick
Co-Founder: Dana Kroplick
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Recent Comments
A 12-cylinder Duesy? Now THIS I gotta see! I don’t think so! Sam, III
From Profile Series: 1947 Tucker '48 Prototype (Tin Goose)
Howard,
My answer to this weeks Mystery Friday Foto #19: A Famous Long Island Estate: It looks like “Laurelton Hall” the Tiffany Estate in Laural Hollow, sports look like polo & golf.
From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate
Thank you Howard for including my interview for the Historic Vehicle Association, it was an honor to represent the Tin Goose and to see it added to the National Register.
_________________________________________________
Howard Kroplick
John, you did a great job!
From Profile Series: 1947 Tucker '48 Prototype (Tin Goose)
Nope Dowling.
From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate
Vanderbilt museum complex in Centerport. Golf and Tennis.
From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate
Boy,when you research you really research,so much to know about the car,it’s amazing what you can find out,and a car you have acquired,as always,nothing but the best and the more you research the better it gets.
From Profile Series: 1947 Tucker '48 Prototype (Tin Goose)
The Eagles Nest estate of Willie Vanderbilt in Centerport
He was the primary founder of the LIMP
The estate included a 9 hole golf course and tennis courts
It is currently the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium
Scenes from the television series Nick & Nicky were shot there
Approximate date of aerial—-1928 since the seaplane hangar does
not seem to yet be in the picture
From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate
Would say its Willie K’s Eagle’s Nest estate in Centerport, LI. Obvious connection to LI Motor Parkway and Vanderbilt Cup Races. Appears that golf and tennis were played there. Currenlty the Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium. Saw some mentions of a TBS series filmed there and to be shown in 2017, but as of yet have not been able to name it. Would say photo is early to mid-1920s. Possibly the estate’s seaplane hanger is not shown in the photo and would be the rationale fro the date. Or just my eyes can’t make it out.
Howard - any chance of getting a look a the hanger?
From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate
Estate: Eagle’s Nest
Owner: William K Vanderbilt II
Location: 180 Little Neck Rd Centerport NY
He established the VCR’s, and built the LIMP ( along with many laborers )
Sports: Golf seems right, and there looks to be a tennis court where the Planetarium is now.
Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum now occupies the estate. A comedy series titled ” Nick and Nicky” was recently filmed here. Eagle’s Nest was built between 1910-1936. The estate appears to be completed, so I’ll say it’s a 1936+ aerial. Is the farmfields on the opposite side of Little Neck Rd associated with the estate?
From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate
Eagles Nest….not Idle Hour. That is the “other” Vanderbilt Estate, formerly Dowling College. What’s up with that location anyway? Does anyone know? Now that Dowling is no more what is going to happen to that mansion?
From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate
NICE WORK HOWARD, THE THREE FOOT CONCRETE EXTENSION PICTURED ABOVE STILL EXISTING IN THIS AREA, IS ON THE EAST END OF THE MOTOR PARKWAY RIGHT RIGHT OF WAY THAT LILCO ACQUIRED IN 1941 FROM NASSAU COUNTY FOR TWENTY FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE WESTERN END OF ONE HUNDRED FOOT WIDE PURCHASE WAS AT NEW HYDE PARK ROAD.. THE REASON FOR THE ACQUISITION WAS LILCO’S NEED FOR A RIGHT OF WAY TO RUN NEW ELECTRIC POWER LINES FROM THE GLENWOOD LANDING POWER PLANT TO THE 2 MILLION SQUARE FEET BUILDING THE SPERRY CORPORATION WAS CONSTRUCTING IN LAKE SUCCESS FOR THE WAR EFFORT. THIS SECTION OF THE PARKWAY’S RIGHT OF WAY, ENDING AT THE REAR OF THE SUB-STATION ON SHELTER ROCK ROAD, CAN BE ACCESSED AT THE I.U.WILLETS ROAD ENTRANCE TO HERRICKS HIGH SCHOOL. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, AL.
From Long Island Motor Parkway Bridge Series:#19 I.U. Willets Road Motor Parkway Bridge in Searingtown
Eagle Nest. Centerport. Willie K’s home.
From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate
This is Willie K’s cribb in Centerport. AKA Idle Hour.
Love the old pics. Interesting to see all the tree lines that were there. Landscape architecture was really of equal importance to these guys as was the home architecture.
From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate
Eagles Nest in Centerport Willy K II’s summer home. Looks like the 1920s because theres nothing else in sight. His garage has some of his private cars and lots of Motor Parkway pictures. The dock had his yacht “Alva” but its not in the pic, so maybe he was sailing the 7 seas at the time. Dont know what sports were played there but they put on some great concerts during the summertime and the TBS show i’ll guess its Nicky and Nicky, along with some commercial shoots.
From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate
Identify the estate, its owner and its location.
Link the estate’s owner to the Vanderbilt Cup Races and the Long Island Motor Parkway.
-It’s Willie K’s Eagle’s Nest! I think that’s nuff’ said!
What two sports were played at the estate?
-I’m guessing tennis and the golf tee off the roof of the Hall Of Fishes!
Which institution currently occupies the estate?
-Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planitarium
Which TBS series was recently filmed at the site?
-An independent film-production company used the mansion and estate grounds recently for scenes in its mystery-romance Nick and Nicky, based on the screwball comedies of the 1930’s
What is the approximate date of the aerial? Provide a rationale.
-1938 Judging by all the additions up to the last for Vanderbilt’s son in ‘33.
From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate
The area behind the church was the exciting find in this segment. I’ve never seen any reference to this location on any blogs. There’s quite a bit of pavement pieces/chunks and finding that little post knob was pretty cool.
There are lots of posts starting at Round Swamp Road and heading east, on both sides.
Love the old pics you posted here Howard. Cool stuff. And Franks detailed overlay of the Rounds Swamp Road spot is fantastic.
From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Hike" III: Bethpage State Park to Round Swamp Road, Bethpage
Great area photos indeed Sam and Dave. You guys have covered it well once again. And great supporting evidence Howard. This is as clear as it gets. Sam, Dave - It looks like rough terrain ahead, hope all went well. Anticipating the next move!
From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Hike" III: Bethpage State Park to Round Swamp Road, Bethpage
You guys took great photos of this segment ( Dave, I like how you utilized Sammy as a LIMP model. I’d say he had a growth spurt, too. ) The rear parking lot of the church is deep. Not surprised there’s remnants back there.
From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Hike" III: Bethpage State Park to Round Swamp Road, Bethpage
I was reading Brian’s comment on May 4th, about the glass on the beach at the Trianon property, it brought back old memories, that has been the problem for many years, I think everyone who frequented that beach stepped on a piece of broken bottle at least once, I, myself three times. The reason for the glass was late night beer parties, and the reason for that was the beach was one of the few that you had access to by vehicle and no one would know you were there so it was a lover’s lane and a place to have a party with no restrictions, no lights, overhanging trees, moonlight and seclusion, what else can you ask for? All you had to know was the way in. No, I was not of that age bracket, A lot of the glass was under about two feet of water, that’s where most people received the cuts.
From Femenias' Findings: Remnants of the Petit Trianon's Walkways in Lake Ronkonkoma
Sam III….I havn’t viewed your railroad website for some time now. Throughout my travels near LIRR ROW’s I have witnessed concrete posts that are similar to the LIMP posts. It’s obvious that the posts along the tracks were acting as old type fencing or boundary markers, likely before electrification. They have good size holes that would accommodate a rigid wire, etc. Exciting stuff, right. LOL
From The Concrete Fence-Posts of the Long Island Motor Parkway
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