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| Whyte, who owned 80 percent of the commercial property in the Pines, until his death at the age of 75 in 2004 instituted the community’s central social activity schedule of “Low Tea” (drinks at the Blue Whale from 5 PM to 8 PM) followed by “High Tea (drinks at the Pavilion from 8 to 10 PM) followed by an evening of dancing at the Pavilion <ref></ref> (all of which were Whyte establishments). | Whyte, who owned 80 percent of the commercial property in the Pines, until his death at the age of 75 in 2004 instituted the community’s central social activity schedule of “Low Tea” (drinks at the Blue Whale from 5 PM to 8 PM) followed by “High Tea (drinks at the Pavilion from 8 to 10 PM) followed by an evening of dancing at the Pavilion <ref></ref> (all of which were Whyte establishments). | ||
| All of the commercial buildings are located in the "harbor" area which is where the ferry from Sayville docks. The harbor also includes docks for yachts. Regularly scheduled seaplanes during the season from New York City connect disembark their passengers at the Harbor. | |||
| The central dance club was the Sandpiper which in 1979 became the Pavilion before being razed at the end of the 2006 season and replaced with the “New Pavilion” in 2007. | The central dance club was the Sandpiper which in 1979 became the Pavilion before being razed at the end of the 2006 season and replaced with the “New Pavilion” in 2007. | ||
Revision as of 16:29, 1 November 2007
Fire Island Pines (often referred to as The Pines or simply Pines) is a hamlet in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York. It is located on Fire Island, a barrier island on the southern side of Long Island.
Fire Island Pines, along with neighboring Cherry Grove, comprise the gay community on Fire Island.
The Pines, which has the most expensive real estate on Fire Island, has approximately 700 houses on its square mile of location. It has two-thirds of the swimming pools on Fire Island. Its summer seasonal population is between 2,500 and 3,000 and in 2004 12 people listed it as their full time residence
Transportation is via foot on the boardwalks. If a person wishes to carry groceries the traditional way to do this is by pulling toy wagons (traditionally the popular Radio Flyer (company)).
The Pines was originally the site of a Coast Guard station built in 1876 and known as Lone Hill Saving Station. The area was purchased by the Home Guardian Company in 1924. Electricity was introduced to the area in 1960 when a 100-unit co-op complex was built.
Former male model John B. Whyte was to encourage its reputation as a gay destination after creating the Botel Pines and Dunes Yacht Club in the 1960s (Cherry Grove was already a gay destination when Whyte developed the Pines). The Botel is now the Hotel Ciel and still the central landmark and only hotel in the Pines.
Whyte, who owned 80 percent of the commercial property in the Pines, until his death at the age of 75 in 2004 instituted the community’s central social activity schedule of “Low Tea” (drinks at the Blue Whale from 5 PM to 8 PM) followed by “High Tea (drinks at the Pavilion from 8 to 10 PM) followed by an evening of dancing at the Pavilion (all of which were Whyte establishments).
All of the commercial buildings are located in the "harbor" area which is where the ferry from Sayville docks. The harbor also includes docks for yachts. Regularly scheduled seaplanes during the season from New York City connect disembark their passengers at the Harbor.
The central dance club was the Sandpiper which in 1979 became the Pavilion before being razed at the end of the 2006 season and replaced with the “New Pavilion” in 2007.
While all of Fire Island may have an official year-round population of 310, the summer population swells to much higher levels especially on weekends. In the Pines, the large houses are filled with summer shares and a 4 bedroom house can easily contain 8 people at a time. The population is primarily gay men from 20-50 years old. It is affectionately referred to as "Chelsea with sand." (Chelsea is one of Manhattan's gay neighborhoods.)
Two of the Pines's most famous events are the Pines Party, AKA "Miss Fire Island", an all-night dance party held each August on the beach, and the Invasion of the Pines, a drag-queen parade held each year on July 4th, commemorating the time when Whyte refused service to a drag queen. The drag queens from Cherry Grove after promenading through the Pines proclaim victory and return to Cherry Grove.
People associated with Fire Island Pines
- Calvin Klein, Former Resident
- David Geffen, Former Resident
- John B. Whyte, Former Resident
References
- Fire Island Pines Chamber of Commerce - Retrieved October 31, 2007
- Havens: Fire Island Pines, N.Y. – New York Times – May 14, 2004
- The Dearly Departed, Class of '04; John B. Whyte -- Mr. Fire Island Pines – New York Times – December 26, 2004
External links
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