Vanderbilt Cup Races

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

Thanks again Howard. What about that picture I sent you of that Diesel engine Packard? I can resend it.

From Car Show Highlights: Merchant Marine Car Show and Historic Motor Parkway Memories Antique Car Show

I’ll pass on the post count offer Howard! Lol. You’re the retired one! You go do it!!

My guess is 750 is a bit high. I would wager we are in the 400-500 range.

I think in Nassau Garden City has the most remaining posts.

We do love finding the unknown posts. We’ve found a few I’m sure nobody knows about! There also are many of them lying in the weeds in various locations.

From The Concrete Fence-Posts of the Long Island Motor Parkway

Oh,tell John he looks great and good to see him.

From Car Show Highlights: Merchant Marine Car Show and Historic Motor Parkway Memories Antique Car Show

Nice pics,but what is the year and make of the last 2 pics on the USMMA show? Thanks in advance.
_______________________________________________________
Howard Kroplick
Ted, new information added above.

From Car Show Highlights: Merchant Marine Car Show and Historic Motor Parkway Memories Antique Car Show

Great post info Sam III. Thanks for the links.

From The Concrete Fence-Posts of the Long Island Motor Parkway

Central Avenue reminds me that I once saw LIMP posts with two or three holes, perpendicular to the RoW, which held bolts and boards instead of twist wire.  I forget where they were and can’t find my pix - sorry.  The green ones in Queens with bolts through single holes are similar.  This reminds me of the times I went scurrying to see newly-discovered LIMP posts reported found at the east side of the Williston or Albertson LIRR station and again at the north side of the circle at the north end of Bethpage State Parkway - NO WAY were they LIMP posts!.  I also remember once being strong enough to lift one end of a 6’ long 3-hole post I rescued from being trashed at Half Hollow Hills and hoisting it into my trunk by myself (whew! - a LI friend now has it for safe-keeping).  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #18 Solved: A Garden City Park Home With "Motor Parkway-Like" Concrete Fence-Posts

Dave - concrete slab likely unrelated because of its distance to the walk path (about 115 ft.). There was also a time when the lake had many pavilions on the sand, eventually left unattended and destroyed. Hard to tell of the slab’s origin without more information.
http://www.lakerhs.org/our town.htm

From Femenias' Findings: Remnants of the Petit Trianon's Walkways in Lake Ronkonkoma

Thanks Al for sharing the LIMP post house story; randomly found during a short-cut maneuver no less. Fantastic!! I’ll be visiting very soon

From Mystery Foto #18 Solved: A Garden City Park Home With "Motor Parkway-Like" Concrete Fence-Posts