Natural beauty and nationally recognized recreation hubs on Fishers Island
Fishers Island crests Long Island Sound a couple of miles off the coast of Connecticut, a spray of verdant tree canopy and cove-crinkled shoreline flecked with the stark white of dozens of sailboats. It’s natural for an island, often shrouded in morning mist, to generate some level of intrigue from outsiders, but the presence of some well-heeled families and a renowned golf club have exacerbated that effect here. To many who spend time on the island, however, its members-only offerings are almost an afterthought. “Fishers Island is so naturally beautiful. It’s totally wild around the airport – there are dirt roads to poke around on, but otherwise, it’s just huge areas of unspoiled terrain,” says Prish Pierce, a real estate agent at Shutters & Sails who specializes in the Fishers Island and New Haven markets. “Most people come here because they know somebody and stay because of the natural beauty. There are around 200 people there in the winter, and maybe 4,000 or 5,000 at the peak of summer.” Despite a shared Suffolk County address, Fishers Island is not the Hamptons – nor does it aspire to mirror the more commercial summering industry found at the forked tip of Long Island. Much of Fishers Island’s appeal lies in its settled, simpler luxuries; preserves pocketed with ponds and hiking trails, a small but well-loved community of local businesses and cultural institutions and the promise of privacy and stunning vistas from the low hills above the sound.
Experience tradition and community at St. John’s, a Fishers Island landmark since 1881.
Fishers Island has a strong maritime heritage, and boating remains a vital part of island life and transportation.
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Private clubs and public recreation spaces across the island
The Fishers Island Club is one of the country’s best courses according to Golf Digest, and its members enjoy sweeping vistas of Long Island Sound from its elegant, 18-hole links-style course. A shoreline studded with private docks and larger marinas reveal the island as a haven for sailors. “The Fishers Island Yacht Club is focused on sailing as competition and as recreation. They’re very active, between teaching people to sail and having races twice a week,” Pierce notes. Other clubs and community groups offer indoor and outdoor recreation centers of their own, from Hay Harbor Club to the Fishers Island Community Center. As a rule, the many small private and residents-only beaches facing Long Island are sandy, while the shoreline closest to Connecticut tends toward tide-smoothed stones. The work of the Henry L. Ferguson Museum’s Land Trust and Fishers Island Conservancy is impossible to ignore; across the island, volunteers have weeded invasives and seeded native plants among other projects, helping to preserve the integrity of hundreds of acres of woods, water features, and grasslands for residents (and the local fauna) to enjoy.
Join the Fishers Island Yacht Club, where tradition meets a commitment to preserving West Harbor.
Hay Harbor Club’s 9 hole links course offers views of Race Rock Lighthouse and Long Island Sound.
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Single-family homes from the island's east end to the west end
The private east end is the largest part of Fishers Island. Past the gatehouse, it unwinds in a sloping network of private roads lined by single-family homes, from winterized, stick-style cottages built in the prewar era to sprawling custom estates that might sport quaint shingle siding and gambrel roofs or the occasional sleeker, contemporary design. The west end tends to be more densely plotted, though its homes also favor the quaint New England styles that were popular at the turn of the 20th century and earlier. Tidy landscaping and shady trees are constants on both sides of the island, and many properties offer waterfront views of either small ponds or the sound. Lately, prices have ranged from around $2 million to $10 million, but the prevalence of private sales mean that costs are likely more variable. Fishers Island has a CAP Index crime score of 1 out of 10, much lower than the national average of 4.
Historic 20th century homes line Fishers Island’s peaceful roads, with each porch sharing its own story.
Fishers Island blends tradition and luxury in modern homes with cedar siding and personal piers.
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Community events and the Henry L. Ferguson Museum
Independence Day weekend showcases Fishers Island’s robust network of organizational and family ties; bicycle parades and barbecues organized by groups like the Island Peoples Project are bookended by an evening fireworks display over West Harbor that the du Pont family has put on for more than 70 years. Though summer is the busiest time of year for social events, everything from fundraisers to holiday celebrations are organized by the island’s more constant cultural centers through every season. The Henry L. Ferguson Museum is a repository for artifacts that chronicle Fishers Island’s natural and human histories, but it regularly introduces rotating exhibitions and special education programming.
The Henry L. Ferguson Museum on Fishers Island offers a variety of exhibits and programs, making it an excellent destination for families.
Explore Fishers Island on two wheels and soak in the charm of its shoreline and open roads.
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Seasonal and year-round businesses in the west end
Fishers Island’s small collection of boutique shops and restaurants are concentrated on its west end, with most opening only through the summer. Bicycles and strollers get parked near Food Arts Cafe or Topper’s Ice Cream depending on whether it’s time for a quick breakfast or a sweet treat. The Pequot Inn has long stopped renting rooms, rather serving dinner and boozy Fishers Island Lemonades on summer evenings; the local VFW is a year-round watering hole. Fishers Island Village Market remains open through the year, though it’s not unusual for islanders to load up the car at larger grocery chains in New London before ferrying over.
Cool off at Topper’s Ice Cream on Fishers Island and try their signature pup-inspired flavors.
Discover vibrant dishes made from organic, local ingredients at Fishers Island’s Food Arts Cafe.
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Ferrying and flying to the mainland and commuting to NYC
A 45-minute ferry ride to New London courtesy of the Fishers Island Ferry District is the most typical means of getting to the mainland. From New London, commuters might board an Amtrak train at the city’s station or drive a personal vehicle brought over on the ferry; New Haven, Hartford and Providence are all around 50 miles away, while New York City is about 130 miles away. Taking a charter plane out of Elizabeth Field airport is the only other way off the island, excluding a personal watercraft.
Catch the Fishers Island Ferry in New London, just steps from the Amtrak station to major cities.
Named after Elizabeth Nugent, the airport connects Fishers Island via private and air taxi flights.
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Fishers Island School’s small student body
From prekindergarten to graduation, kids attend Fishers Island School, which earns a B-minus from Niche. Total enrollment trends closer to 50 than 100 students, with a healthy percentage ferrying over from Connecticut each day.
With no traffic lights on Fishers Island, students enjoy a peaceful walk to Fishers Island School, serving K–12.
The ferry ride from New London to Fishers Island takes approximately 45 minutes and provides stunning views of Long Island Sound.
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Managing flood zones and accessing emergency services
Some low-lying waterfront areas and pockets around Fishers Island’s scattered ponds fall into flood zones, though dunes and bluffs along the shore typically keep flooding at bay. Storms sweeping through Long Island Sound can, however, disrupt ferry service. The island has its own fire department, EMS division and medical clinic, but for care beyond what’s available through the Island Health Project, the Sea Stretcher ambulance boat can cross the sound toward Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in around 20 minutes.
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On average, homes in Fishers Island, NY sell after 317 days on the market compared to the national average of 50 days. The median sale price for homes in Fishers Island, NY over the last 12 months is $3,550,000.
This sprawling 5.06 acre lot is located at the intersection of East End and Brooks Point Road just past Middle Farms Pond. The lot sits on the second highest point on the Island with easy access to Utilities and East End Road. This beautiful elevated lot is framed by the Island’s native fauna adjacent to protected conservancy land ensuring future privacy. Recently partly cleared, this private and
Enjoy year-round access to beautiful Isabella beach and walking/biking on the recreational path to the East End of the island. Sweeping estate includes guest cottage – the two lots offer plenty of options! Nestled on a high bluff is approx. 4.7 private and lush acres of trees, lawns and perennial gardens with 665 feet of frontage on Block Island Sound with a path to a private beach and access to
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