Robins Island

Robins Island is a 435-acre undeveloped island in Peconic Bay by the eastern end of Long Island off the coast of New Suffolk, New York. The island is privately owned and not accessible to the public and is within the jurisdiction of Town of Southold in Suffolk County, New York in the USA.

History

The island was owned by a Loyalist, Parker Wickham, during the American Revolution. The island and other nearby lands in Suffolk County were confiscated by act of attainder, and Wickham himself was banished from the state. When his property was put up for sale, it was purchased by Caleb Brewster and Benjamin Tallmadge, two espionage agents of General George Washington. In 1989, Wickham's descendants attempted to regain the property, but their lawsuit was dismissed.

Robins Island is currently owned by Wall Street financier Louis Bacon, who purchased it in 1993 for $11 million. A conservation easement in 1997 makes it unlikely that any development will occur on the island. Bacon has invested considerably in restoring the neglected island, going so far as to import full-grown oak trees to replace ones harvested for lumber years earlier. Some non-native grasses were removed from the island and replaced, and hunters reduced an overgrown deer population. Bacon is known for hosting traditional English "driven pheasant" hunts on the island for wealthy guests.

Geography

Robins Island is at latitude 40.968N and longitude is 72.462W., at the border of Little Peconic Bay and Great Peconic Bay.

The island can be reached by a private vessel. A road runs the length of the island.