Vanderbilt Cup Races

Good finds on this exploration!

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Hike" III: Bethpage State Park to Round Swamp Road, Bethpage

Warm up The Black Beast, close off the Motor Parkway’s remnants and show that Renault who’s boss!  Some of the myriad L I car clubs might consider the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum in Philadelphia as a destination, It’s better than wearing out canvas chairs in hot parking lots…

From Antique Automobile: 1907 Renault Vanderbilt Racer

Does anyone know if #185 Little Neck Rd ( Directly opposite side of the rd ) is/was associated with the Museum/Estate?

When viewing an aerial of this location, there’s a well paved path to the former Hangar. Is the hangar “open” for museum visitors? I don’t remember walking down there 7 yrs ago.
___________________________________________________________

Howard Kroplick

Brian, it was part of the estate including a farm and the superintendent’s residence. The hangar has been abandoned for years and closed to the public.

From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate

The golf course had only six holes. You went around three times. Some of the holes had alternative tee boxes giving the golfer a different look and yardages. In the 1990s there was a discussion about re-opening the course as a fund raiser. Al Velocci

From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate

My family and I visited here around 7 yrs ago ( Cub Scout Outing ). I think we LIMPERS should visit here as a group in the near future.

Howard and Al…. Do both of you still volunteer at the museum here?

From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate

Howard,
Looking at the mystery photo again and I’m realizing I was mistaken and the memorial wing has yet to be built. I now certainly agree with the 1930 guess, but didn’t the memorial wing for Vanderbilt’s son pre-date the seaplane hangar by two years being built in 1933 and the hangar in ‘35?

From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate

Mystery Foto# 19… This photo shows the William K. Vanderbilt mansion known as Eagle’s Nest. It is located in Centerport, NY. Willy K founded the Vanderbilt Cup races and built the LIMP. The sports played there might be Polo and Tennis??? The William K. Vanderbuilt Museum with the Planetarium currently occupies the estate. I believe that the TBS series recently filmed there is called “Nick and Nicky”.
Date unknown but it seems to be way back when crops were grown on the grounds.

From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate

Eagles Nest owned by Suffolk County in Centerport over looking Northport Bay started in 1910 by William K Vanderbilt II
the seaplane hanger is not yet built so picture is probably before 1935 he died in 1944
golf was played, tennis also, yachting, sail boat races as well as fishing. He owned a large yacht of 264 ft

From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate

Estate is Eagle’s Nest. Owned by William K. Vanderbilt, the man behind the Vanderbilt Cup Races and the first president of the LI Motor Pky Corp. Located in Centerport along Little Neck Rd.  Golf and Tennis were played at the estate. Current home of Vanderbilt Museum.  Love the website Howard.  Best, Thomas Carr (author of the upcoming Arcadia book “Plainview-Old Bethpage”

From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate

Great work Sam and Dave!  When you find a post it’s like finding a treasure

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Hike" III: Bethpage State Park to Round Swamp Road, Bethpage

I believe this is Eagle’s Nest, the William K. Vanderbilt estate in Centerport.  William Vanderbilt, and his Cup Races, are the reason the LIMP came to be - his money and his passion.  Both tennis and golf were played, with the first tee of the golf course on the roof of his personal “museum”.  It is currently occupied by the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium.  It was recently used for the filming of Nick and Nicky, but that was a movie, not the TBS series.  Unfortunately, I don’t know the name of the series.  The photo is certainly prior to 1970 when the planetarium was constructed, as it is not in the photo.  The golf course looks like it may be available for play, which probably makes it prior to 1950 when the natural history institution was established.

From Mystery Foto #19 Solved: An Aerial View of William K. Vanderbilt, Jr.'s Eagle's Nest Estate

Gotta chime in on this one.  Love this series; thanks muchly.  That post “remnant” behind St. Mary’s - unless it’s broken off, it looks to me like the very tip of a deeply buried post.  You guys missed the embankment along the north side of the north driveway of the OB firehouse-cum-maintenance complex, in the line of trees.  Sam, III
___________________________________________________________________________
Howard Kroplick
Sam, that embankment was taken down a few years ago when the firehouse expanded their driveway.

From Sam & Dave's "Excellent Motor Parkway Hike" III: Bethpage State Park to Round Swamp Road, Bethpage

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