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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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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
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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.
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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
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