Top 15 GOLD COAST MANSIONS of Long Island

From the turn of the century, well into the roaring 20s, this was the place where New York elites would build their lavish private estates. And if you’ve ever seen The Great Gatsby, you’ll know it was a land of opulent affairs, and one that served as the backdrop to this legendary tale.
Today, we are taking you to the North Shore. An area known for its extreme wealth, its jazz-era decadence, and palatial European-style estates.
Located on the northern coast of New York’s Long Island, directly off the Long Island Sound, the North Shore exploded into affluence at the turn of the 20th century. Hence, earning it a more fashionable reputation as the Gold Coast.
Of the 500 or so grand mansions that were built during this prosperous era, only a third of them still stand today. And if you’ve got a few minutes to spare, you’re welcome to join us on our tour of the most extravagant, most remarkable mansions in this most majestic section of Long Island.
As we make stops in filthy rich towns like Brookville, Old Westbury, Sands Point, and the like, you’ll be taken back to a bygone world where opulence, prominence, and elegance seemed to be all that mattered.
So without further ado, here are the Top 15 Gold Coast mansions of Long Island!
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Top 15 GOLD COAST MANSIONS of Long Island
• Top 15 GOLD COAST MANS...

[@iamagiantslayer]

Great video. you've reminded me of what someone once said ❤ Successful people don't become that way overnight.most people see at a glance wealth, a great career, purpose-is the results of hard work and hustle over time. I pray that anyone who reads this will be successful in life.

[@annsmith7207]

I grew up here and it was absolutely bucolic --- and never took it for granted. The film "Sabrina" was filmed literally down the road from my home --- and as you can see from all of these mansions -- the architecture is masterful and the owners were quite wealthy but did not flaunt it the way it is done today. Quiet, understated, elegant and, most of all, reserved. I could not have asked for a more beautiful environment in which to grow up --- and very grateful.

[@lharr]

I live on Long Island and have been to all of these mansions and they are absolutely amazing! I believe they were all built before income tax.

[@christineparis5607]

I read that Keith Richard's had one of these mansions for a couple years, or rented it for his dad, son and good friends. His son wrote later that the place was huge and haunted, they heard parties and glasses clicking in empty rooms, do you know where he was? I always wondered ....have you ever lived in a ghostly place? We live in a hundred year old house from great grandparents...a lot of people have seen ghosts here, almost always during the day...

[@dearbrad1996]

Well good for you. But who cares?

[@jillsackett5837]

I care. I too live on Long Island and it's true that Mr Richards lived in one of them...I forget which one but my daugters Godfather used to work for a locksmith when he was very young and he was called there on a job and met Keith Richards dad He said Mr Richards was a gentleman....very kind and down to Earth I've live on Long Island my entire life and love hearing stories about its history. Thanks 4 sharing

[@nl8819]

​@@dearbrad1996get lost idiot 🤡. I find this interesting.

[@hewitc]

They were also built and maintained by very low paid workers. There was no federal minimum wage law before FDR's New Deal in the Great Depression.

[@dmmchugh3714]

Love Old Westbury Gardens. It was used in "Love Story" and "North by Northwest " ! No money like old money , that's for sure...

[@buffmontana4203]

I grew up on LI and have visited most of these places even Oneka when it was abandoned. My favorite one to visit is the Planting Fields. The gardens and greenhouses are magnificent and the grounds are fun to explore. I have seen the JPMorgan house in Glen Cove be demolished before my eyes, it was sad. My grandfather was the chauffer to the Goulds back in the day and my father used to play on the grounds when he was a kid. There are a few more old mansions that you didn't cover that are easy to visit because they are public. Thanks for the video, it brings back memories.

[@schmancy2978]

Fascinating! Thank you for sharing!

[@samanthab1923]

Very cool. Our neighborhood of 25 houses was built around an old Gimbel estate in NJ. I loved going up to check out the mansion.

[@cheres68]

The Vanderbilt property is in Suffolk County not Nassau

[@kellingtonlink956]

Great selection. All interesting in their own unique way. Thanks for the video. Have a wonderfully Merry Christmas.

[@schmancy2978]

Thank you! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!

[@mattpomara1967]

Great job! Love the list

[@schmancy2978]

Thanks so much!

[@piusx8317]

I love it when Americans come to the UK to view our stately homes when you have all this wonderful history in your own country.

[@kennethfharkin]

#10 Old Westbury Gardens was literally built replicating an English mansion and garden in order to entice his bride to be to come to America. This includes things like not having closets in the home as those were a point of property taxation in England at the time such mansions were built, depending on wardrobes instead. The wife then never gave up her "Englishness". Outside her room/study where people were led in and out of when calling on her are two portraits on the wall opposite the door when they exist her room. One is Lord Admiral Nelson who needs no introduction. The other was Sir Banastre Tarleton who was one of the most hated English officers of the Revolutionary War (inspiration for the evil British officer in The Patriot). Placing that portrait outside her door to confront everyone leaving her presence was a deliberate choice of hers and could only have been there as an insult of sorts. I noted the portrait on the tour when the tour director pointed out the portrait of Nelson and I asked if he knew who the other one was. He wasn't aware of the history or implication of having that officer's portrait there. Just a bit of historical trivia. As an American who is often in Europe, Switzerland though for work, not the UK, I appreciate what you are saying. For us 100 - 200 years old is VERY OLD and the further west you go in the USA the younger the structures and history are. I am not addressing pre-Columbian native structures or history. European residents live amongst structures easily 300, 500, or even thousands of years old every day. You see them in your daily life, you often enter them and sometimes you eat, sleep, drink or even live in them! That is simply astounding to someone from America and why the history on display in Europe wherever we turn amazes us. It is like someone from flat land at sea level on the coast visiting the Alps. We see the ocean every day which is amazing to those from the mountains yet to us it is simply there and vice versa.

[@piusx8317]

@@kennethfharkin Something doesn't have to be a 1,000 yrs old to be interesting. I'm British and find US history way more interesting than British.

[@kennethfharkin]

@@piusx8317 Thank you. History is always interesting to me. It is simply a fact that when there is 1,000+ years of it in a place there is more of it to find interesting 🙂

[@charlotteruby4407]

I think it’s because not only did they mostly start in the UK y’all are so much older than ours!

[@carlaschultheis3662]

That’s what we were trying to duplicate. We wanted to be American royalty. Self appointed of course.

[@LMays-cu2hp]

Very nice and thank you for sharing..

[@schmancy2978]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@LMays-cu2hp]

@@schmancy2978 You are welcome. Happy New Year's to you and your staff.

[@philipdileo3750]

I live in Glen Cove and have been to all of these mansions and inside a few. They are all extravagant!

[@vincentbasso4903]

I like Westbury Garden. I've attended the AACA car show for years

[@michelleleeginger5225]

Just an FYI, Eagles nest is owned by Suffolk County, not Nassau. And Coindre hall is pronounced [ Khan Dre ]. But a very nice video.

[@stephanebelizaire3627]

Wonderful !

[@schmancy2978]

Glad you like it! Cheers!

[@geniferteal4178]

I live very close to many of these and I've only visited a few. Maybe I'll have to check them out

[@jdorffer]

Hempstead House is my favorite, it's amazing to have a large castle on long island

[@bethtyree6346]

Cool video

[@bustera1909]

In preschool we went on a field trip to oheka castle and I vividly remember rolling down the hills and like the lawns with my classmates

[@migueldeavalos8971]

Magnificent Estates

[@fredwedley7335]

Two must see Sagamore Hill and Vanderbilt

[@pattyhess5875]

I filmed at old westbury, Sagamore Hill and Caumsett which is pass where I boarded a horse and met my husband in 1996. Great video. The horse stables was also a film location used in the original Arthur with Liza Minelli. Chandeliers in there and all!

[@RR-fg2rl]

Great video I love that area and it's history People think the Hamptons is the rich area but the original area is gold coast Have you done a video of the mainline in Philly ? That area is like gold coast

[@schmancy2978]

Will have to add Main Line to our list. Thank you!

[@XenaBe25]

Did I just see *Gotham* 's Wayne Manor? :)

[@schmancy2978]

Good eye! That was #5, Webb Institute.

[@suzycatipiller821]

Simply beautiful. ❤

[@schmancy2978]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@normasaltos5028]

visite Old Westbury gardens en la primavera, magnifico y hermoso lugar

[@frankmastromauro5630]

Good video

[@schmancy2978]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MrJonathanmichelle]

I was born in Manhattan, grew up and still live on the Gold Coast where I was raised and stayed with wife and children. I have been to a few on this list and live close to one of them. It is a shame that many of the mansions are gone, some of the properties purchased by developers, cut up and new homes built years ago. I know there are many others here, I am curious if any of the ones that are left are privately owned. Thank you for a great video of my area, I really enjoyed this video.

[@schmancy2978]

Thank you for watching!

[@judsonmusick3177]

I would love to tour Old Westbury Gardens.

[@krillin876]

I was at Old Westbury Gardens over the summer they do a classic car show in the backyard where people bring all their beautiful cars it's gorgeous

[@Mini-ge9sm]

It’s beautiful!! ESP I’m the spring

[@carlosaraujo59]

I definitely need one on tuxedo park and Hudson valley

[@schmancy2978]

Tuxedo Park is forbidden. But we’ll put Hudson Valley on the list.

[@samanthab1923]

@@schmancy2978Shame about TP but Hudson Valley would be appreciated

[@hewitc]

@@schmancy2978 It's a gated community but you can buy a house there, if you can afford one. It's not as expensive as some NYC affluent communities because of the inconvenience of the commute.

[@yorkielover1027]

The first time I saw King’s Point (not mentioned in this video) I was in awe. I never imagined a place like that.

[@schmancy2978]

Built recently in 2002, it wasn’t historic enough to make this list.

[@yorkielover1027]

@@schmancy2978 The mansions at King’s Point? They’re way older. And they have the best views of Manhattan, being closer. I wasn’t referring to a particular mansion but to an entire neighborhood.

[@josephconsoli4128]

I've hiked and toured in most of these mansions which led me to do much research on the subject. One that was not mentioned is Ormston House in Lattingtown that is 100% intact with its original acreage. This stone castle is a monastery now and perfectly maintained. It's amazing that since the early 2000's I've seen at least 3 beautiful old mansions get demolished. The property is just too valuable today. Back in the day the rich Manhattanites had their summer homes north of the city. Once the Queensboro bridge was built, word began to spread about Long Island's north shore and easy accessibility. The property was reasonably cheap, so these tycoons often bought many acres of land around their summer homes. By the time WWII came, even these tycoons could not afford to maintain these estates. They divided and sold the property, and had the mansions used for things like schools. Some actually built a smaller home on their own property! Today these old established coastal north shore neighborhoods, like the Hamptons much further east, are segregated by extremely high property taxes and home costs.

[@samanthab1923]

I had no idea how high the taxes are on LI. Crazy

[@mikem4696]

Which have you seen razed?

[@josephconsoli4128]

@@mikem4696 Burrwood, Inisfada, and Lands End.

[@mikem4696]

@@josephconsoli4128 I too had the occasion to visit Inisfada both while it was still the retreat house and during demolition. Tragic loss. When did Burrwood come down? I did some electrical work in a few of the homes that were built on the property around 2001-2002ish? Still many outbuildings laying around up there in cold spring harbor. I heard a rumor about a formal dinner party that was thrown in the house a short time before it was razed.

[@josephconsoli4128]

@@mikem4696 Wow! That's so cool. I believe there is a video tour of Inisfada. It was a tragedy for that monumental "castle" to be brought down. Yes, I do believe that, according to Monica Randall, a secret party was held in Burrwood before it was to be demolished. I can see you're a "Gold Coast" buff like me. I find it fascinating. I've been inside MANY of the surviving mansions when they held the design showcases. For me the most tragic loss was the Tiffany's Laurelton Hall. It would've have been one of the most coveted museums and culture art centers in the country.

[@OsbaldoSegura]

Loved visiting a number of these all throughout my life here on Long Island, these places are an experience I highly recommend!

[@sunshinecoastrealestatepho9970]

So wonderful none have been demolished

[@Richardsonprincess00]

There should be a landmark of these historical mansions.

[@Free2choose]

Two thirds of them have been demolished.

[@kennethfharkin]

As stated, many have been demolished, only a few are left.

[@ericsookerman9924]

Coe home is my favorite on Long island

[@anyb5020]

Grand Rapids Michigan.

[@Richardsonprincess00]

Let's do the Pratt family members next time.

[@schmancy2978]

Thank you! Will add them to our list.

[@dearbrad1996]

I like the one with the biggest electrified fence, to keep all the riff raff out

[@edwardlincoln3981]

Gold Coast Mansions extended to St James NY Long Island East about another 35 -40 miles east of this video illustration …Almost half of Long Islands North Shore

[@vickifrederick2934]

SO sad that these be homes are no longer affordable for families but at least most are preserved

[@kbunky69]

Eagle nest is in Suffolk County

[@schmancy2978]

You’re right. Thanks for the correction!

[@ahtrix]

long islander here, vanderbilt is the best

[@meganledford9709]

Man, those Vanderbilt’s were good at spending money weren’t they?!

[@SapphireSloane]

If you live on Long Island, you’ve been to the Vanderbilt Mansion and the Planetarium millions of times for field trips. Great video, by the way, and such rich history here.😊

[@schmancy2978]

Thank you for watching!

[@anyb5020]

Move out while you can. LI taxes are to much. It’s not desired anymore

[@hewitc]

@@anyb5020 They pay for some of the best public schools in the country. They also pay their police departments, which are well funded.

[@samanthab1923]

Ruins of Knollwoods Estate in Muttontown NY

[@irisheyes5890]

Taxes were probably so high that the families had to abandoned them to the state or counties.

[@kellyheighway5411]

These houses should be kept as part of Americans history & used in movies, TV series, including weddings & other things to the public

[@donnapistilli2660]

Oheka

[@mjdf122]

I’m Originally From Hewlett Harbor Nassau County Long Island New York It’s The Only Part Of The South Shore Of Long Island That Is Like The North Shore Gold Coast With Mansions Estates And Acres Of Land I’m Now In Bronxville Westchester County New York Within My Life Affluent Areas Most Definitely

[@schmancy2978]

Thanks. We must check it out.

[@mjdf122]

@@schmancy2978 I’ve known before the days of google good thing is we can look it up now instead of traveling all around like it used to be in the 80s and 90s

[@carmine_]

No place better then Long Island and Nyc

[@michaelhurley3171]

Is there a mansion that inspired Great Gatsby house 🏠?

[@schmancy2978]

It’s a mixture of them. The Mansion at Glen Cove, de Seversky Mansion, and Oheka.

[@michaelhurley3171]

@@schmancy2978 thank you. Great content, have you been to those mansions?

[@gmann212]

Why are so many of these mansions sold to the state?

[@superdill6665]

Nearly all seem to be in the hands of non profit organizations. I wonder how much that costs Long Island in property taxes lol.

[@kennethfharkin]

I love how there is an assumption that government NOT dipping its hands into someone's pockets to remove money is somehow costing Long Island. Long Island county governments, Suffolk and Nassau, are already bloated, inefficient, and corrupt. I am certain they would LOVE to see these properties broken up into plots of land with homes, apartments, and retail spaces which they could then tax and waste even more money while removing the ability of the public to enjoy any of these spaces. Those non profit organizations are not running these places as homes for their members/presidents. Nobody is living in those establishments. If you want to see all these historic places destroyed so you can bloat government further then by all means remove their non profit tax exemptions. Just understand that your one taxes will not come down one cent. Government does not give back, it takes.

[@superdill6665]

@Kenneth Harkin very well explained, thank you. Your point about the government looking to perhaps break these properties apart and destroy their historical value and making it impossible for private citizens to enjoy what non profits have preserved clarified the issue very well for me. Honestly, I've never even been anywhere near New York. I've spent my whole life on ranches in Oregon, Nevada, and Idaho. I understand very well what happens when government agencies manage to get their hands on land they have no right to. But out here, the non-profits pretty much equal the government's abilities to lock up huge parcels of land and keep private citizens out. The consequences have been disastrous. By locking it up and closing access roads, we've lost millions of acres of pristine forests and desert land to wildfires. Many forests have been lost to infestations of parasites that kill trees, and the undergrowth has been allowed to build up to levels where if a fire does start, it's nearly impossible to stop. We've lost entire towns in my area because of this type of mismanagement by the government. But some of the non profits that have ownership of parts of this are equally as guilty of maintaining conditions that have led to astronomical loss of land, as well as loss of life, both humans and wildlife. It has been a slow growing disaster in the making for the last 50 or 60 years. It has been one of the hardest things to accept because much of this mess was preventable. Anyway, again, thank you for your clarifying response to my comment. It's true, you do learn something new every day. Have a great New Year! 🙂👍🏼

[@kennethfharkin]

@@superdill6665 Thanks and my apologies if I came off short. I am aware of the public land issues out west and feel for you. It is a real mess and one more example of less government is better government. For these properties pull up google maps and look them up. Make certain to use the satellite view. They are located in some of the highest real estate tax areas in the nation. The local governments would LOVE to be able to make a fortune off of the property taxes of those locations once the get chopped into parcels.

[@kenmiller8389]

So true . Property tax on long island is insane . I lived next to the Frick Estate for over 25 years . I Had to move because they taxed me out of my house .

[@hewitc]

@@kenmiller8389 You high taxes were subsidizing the tax exempts. But you also paid for well funded public schools.

[@anyb5020]

Move to GRAND RAPIDS. Much cheaper and more beautiful.

[@markzelinski4434]

I’ll save you the time! All these “mansions” are now donated and museums…🙄🙄🙄🙄

[@martinmoffitt4702]

Some of these "Facts" or so Called "Facts" pictures are far from correct!