Fishing and boating in the Western Bays from a South Shore hamlet
Barnum Island, named after Sarah Ann Baldwin Barnum, wife of Peter “P.C.” Barnum, is an easy scapegoat for murky, circus-themed urban legends. The historic Ferris wheel outside of Jordan Lobster Farms, though technically a relic of Nunley’s Carousel and Amusement Park, probably doesn’t help. “People think it’s named after P.T. Barnum, they’ll say he used to store elephants here. That’s wrong, that never happened,” says Frank DeLucia, an associate broker with Coldwell Banker who has lived in Barnum Island for over 45 years. “We’re really just a nice, quiet community. A big fishing town. In just 2 miles, you’re at the beach, but you’re not paying Long Beach prices.” While big top showmanship isn’t a part of daily life in Barnum Island, plenty of classic South Shore suburban pastimes are. Boating or fishing in the West Bays, cheering at Little League games and heading out for a waterfront meal are all on offer on the eastern half of the island between Oceanside and Long Beach.
Many residents of Barnum Island have boats.
Nunley's original ferris wheel, a Long Island landmark is housed Barnum Island.
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Shell Harbor fishing and Shell Creek Park
From private docks, Barnum Island boaters launch into Shell Harbor and Shell Creek to explore the Western Bays. Anglers cast for fluke and porgies from the same docks and watercraft anchored out near salt marshes. Those without backyard water access might store and launch boats at Empire Point Boating Center or rent a kayak from Empire Kayaks. If a beach day is in order, the waves of the Atlantic Ocean and shoreline-hugging boardwalk in Long Beach are about 2 miles from home.
While Shell Creek Park also offers space for fishing, several athletic courts and a tree-shaded playground sprawl along the waterfront. The dolphin-themed splash park gets turned on as temperatures rise. Island Park Little League teams practice and play games on the nearby baseball diamonds.
Calm bay waters around Barnum Island make for great kayaking.
Various canals run through Barnum Island with waterfront homes on them.
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Waterfront single-family homes and townhouses in Barnum Island
With the exception of its serpentine eastern waterfront, Barnum Island is typical of many Long Island suburbs. Long, closely plotted residential streets are lined by classic single-family home styles built from the prewar era through the 1960s, like Cape Cods, colonials, ranch-style homes and split-levels, as well as narrow sidewalks and shady trees. Homes on landlocked plots sell for $520,000 to $750,000. Homes with backyard waterfront views sell for $730,000 to $1.2 million. Townhouses in The Yacht Club, a waterfront gated community, sell for $630,000 to $930,000.
A waterfront condo offers a great alternative for living in Barnum Island.
Many homes in Barnum Island are waterfront Colonial Homes.
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The Island Park Little League Opening Day Parade
As the eastern half of the Island Park landmass, Barnum Island enjoys a close relationship with the neighboring hamlet and its annual traditions. American Legion members, Scout troops, Little League teams, marching bands and engine-riding fire departments line up in Island Park for the annual Memorial Parade, inviting civilians to decorate their bicycles and join in. The Island Park Little League Opening Day Parade proceeds through Barnum Island itself, decked out in the colors of all participating teams and ending at Shell Creek Park for the season’s first pitch.
Shopping and dining on Austin Boulevard
Through-traffic to and from Long Beach helps to maintain commercial strips within Barnum Island, splitting from Long Island Road and traveling up Austin Boulevard. Catty-corner to a Speedway and Dunkin’, Jimmy Hays Steak House has served upscale surf and turf entrees for decades. “People from all over come to Jimmy Hays, it’s packed all the time,” DeLucia says. Down the road, Full Gospel Church holds regular services and ministries for men, women and children. Between a string of chains and locally owned businesses, including a pet supplies shop and garden center, diners can stop into Ananau Peruvian Cuisine or Moo Burger. At the end of the road along Wreck Lead, Jordan Lobster Farms bridges the gap between a fresh fish market and coastal cottage-style restaurant inside and out on the waterfront deck. King Kullen is nearby for groceries, but other big names like Stop & Shop and Costco are nearby in Oceanside.
Jordan Lobster House in Barnum Island, invite guests to enjoy seafood in their outdoor patio.
Jimmy Hays Steakhouse in Barnum Island serves amazing food.
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Award-winning choir at Long Beach High School
Francis X. Hegarty Elementary School and Lincoln Orens Middle School both earn a B-plus from Niche. Long Beach High School earns an A and stands across the water on the neighboring barrier island. While high schoolers enjoy academic support, they also get to shine during extracurriculars. In 2024, members of the Long Beach High School Select Choir earned the Best Modern Music Performance Award following a competitive recital staged at Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Island Park Lincoln Orens Middle School in Barnum Island has a lot of school spirit.
Children enjoy attending Hagerty Elementary school in Island Park, NY.
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Island Park LIRR Station and commuting to the mainland
From the nearby Island Park Long Island Rail Road Station, train riders have a 50-minute trip into Penn Station. Those driving into New York City start north on Long Beach Road on the 30-mile ride to Manhattan, experiencing traffic during peak hours. “Living this far south from the major highways, driving to the city can be a little bit of a hassle. We’re probably 20 minutes from the Southern State Parkway,” DeLucia says. John F. Kennedy International Airport is around 11 miles away for more distant travel, and Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital is almost 4 miles away for medical care.
Living in a Western Bay flood zone
Enjoying life on the bayfront comes with falling into a flood zone. Although catastrophic coastal storms like Hurricane Sandy don’t happen often, the risk of experiencing storm surge means that almost everyone living in Barnum Island needs flood insurance. Rates and risk can both be mitigated by implementing prevention measures like raising a home or checking FEMA maps for pockets of higher elevation within the hamlet.
Written By
Hannah Rainey
Photography Contributed By
Jeff Siegel
Video By
Emma Hadley
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Aideen Duignan,
an experienced agent in this area.
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