Just 7 miles from Wading River Beach on Long Island’s North Shore, the state forests and parks surrounding Ridge make it a community full of sweeping woodsy vistas. “We’re a quiet area, more like a sleepy town,” says Mildred “Millie” Thomas, an associate broker at Signature Premier Properties who has been selling homes in the area for over 30 years. “In the summer, it gets busier here. It’s not like the South Shore and the Hamptons where the traffic is crazy, but we do get a lot more people from the city, so some of the streets do have traffic when people come out in the summertime.” The trees surrounding Ridge can make it feel secluded at times, contributing to its peaceful, sleepy vibe, but residents don’t have to go far to enjoy all the benefits of living on what Thomas calls “the cusp of the North Fork.”
A large portion of Ridge is shrouded in forest.
Wading River Beach, near Ridge has a nice setting for playing or relaxing.
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Near state forests, North Shore beaches
Rocky Point Pine Barrens State Forest sprawls across almost 6,000 acres and offers hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and enjoying nature. The park has the state's highest biodiversity of plants and animals. Seasonal hunting is allowed in the pine barrens and Brookhaven State Park, which is over 1,600 acres and offers 25 miles of trails. Members of Lake Panamoka Civic Association have access to the lake. “There are three beaches,” Thomas says. “You can swim, you can fish, you can go boating, but you have to use a kayak or a rowboat because they don’t want to pollute the water.”
Fink Country Farm offers hayrides, a corn maze, a petting zoo and seasonal activities including pumpkin picking. Scott’s Pointe, an amusement park, is just 4 miles away. “They have a wave pool, a restaurant, a rock climbing wall,” Thomas says of the park, adding that there's also a go-kart track on the way that also offers axe throwing, mini golf and laser tag. When the weather’s nice, the nearby beaches become the place to be. Shoreham Beach and Wading River Beach are just 7 miles away, and it’s just a 30-minute drive to Iron Pier Beach on the North Fork.
There are many biking and hiking paths to explore in the Rocky Point Pine Barrens area.
Scott's Pointe over in Calverton near Ridge has a new amusement park with a rideable sheet wave.
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Tree-shaded homes starting at $350,000
Often set back on wooded lots with mature oaks and pines, Ridge has ranch-style, hi-ranch and split-level homes. Lots can be more than an acre, and prices typically range from $350,000 to $800,000. “There is also some new construction in Ridge over the past few years,” says Deloar Khan, a licensed real estate salesperson with AVS Realty in Deer Park. “There's a house in this community at almost any price point.”
To the north of Middle Country Road, otherwise known as State Route 25, much of Ridge is taken up by three gated 55-plus communities: Leisure Village, Leisure Knoll, and Leisure Glen. Each community has slightly different amenities, house styles and price points. Condos start at $280,000, while detached homes can climb to around $600,000. Each community has monthly common fees, with the exact cost varying by community and sometimes by the size of the home. “All of these leisure complexes include snow and leaf removal, grass cutting, they give them basic cable TV and some include internet,” Thomas says. “They all have a clubhouse, a nice big outdoor pool and a bus service, so they take people to town to go shopping.”
Charming ranch homes with decent-sized yards are in Ridge.
Ranch-style homes are as rampant in Ridge as many other parts of the island.
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Computer coding at Longwood High
Niche gives the Longwood Central School District a B-plus. Children can start their educations at Ridge Elementary School, which has a B-plus. They then attend Longwood Middle School, which also has a B-plus, for fifth and sixth grades. They then move on to Longwood Junior High School, which has an A-minus, and Longwood High School, which has a B-plus. Tech-minded students at Longwood High can take advantage of the school's computer coding program and highlight their skills during an annual Hack-A-Thon tournament. The program’s goal is to prepare kids for a prosperous future in the tech industry.
Longwood Jr. High School is located off of Longwood Road, in Yaphank, NY.
Longwood High School has a fairly large campus with many well maintained fields.
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Dining along Middle Country Road
Pickup spots for dinner include Go Burger for burgers, onion rings and shakes and Alfredo’s Pizzeria & Restaurant for pizza. Drifter’s Kitchen & Bar is popular for sit-down dinners. Thomas says Drifter's always “does a number” on the building and surrounding trees when it’s time to decorate for Christmas. A little farther away is Greek Island Diner. “It’s breakfast, lunch and dinner — you could go for the whole day and eat there, and their food is amazing,” Thomas says. “It’s the most wonderful family that runs it, too.” Most residents grab groceries just across the street at King Kullen. “You’re close to the wineries too, which is really great,” says Jennifer Nyx, a Realtor at Keller Williams who has been selling new homes in Ridge for over two years. “It’s not too far from the Riverhead Tanger Outlet.”
Drifters is a go-to in Ridge as it is one of the nicer restaurants on a sleepy stretch.
GO Burger in Ridge is a really good option for being one of only a few eating spots in Ridge.
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Traveling along Route 25, William Floyd Parkway
Route 25, State Route 25A and William Floyd Parkway run right through Ridge, providing easy avenues to travel by car. The closest Long Island Rail Road station is a 15-minute drive away in Medford, bringing commuters to Penn Station in an hour and 45 minutes during rush hour.
Ridge has Middle Country Road and the William Floyd Parkway cutting through the middle of it.
While Medford is not that close to Ridge, it is a good LIRR option that connects to Ronkonkoma.
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Fun on the farm
Fink’s Country Farm hosts seasonal events close to home, including a Christmas tree lighting ceremony and Santa appearances during the winter, a daily open-air market during the summer and a fall festival that features live music, face painting, pony rides and an apple cannon.
Fink's Farm in Ridge has something fun for all ages.
Fink's Farm in Ridge is as much a nursery as is a fun farm for family fun.
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