Politics & Government

Town Buys Neptune's, Plans to Transform It Into a Museum

The museum will be dedicated to the African-American Coast Guard Station that once stood at the site.

The popular summer Dune Road spot, Neptunes Beach Club, which has had trouble with drugs over the years with cops responding on a regular basis will soon be reestablished as a museum and public boardwalk.

The Town Board, which voted to purchase the 2.8 acre parcel on Tuesday for $3.2 million with community preservation funds, also approved a resolution presented by Councilman Jim Malone to earmark $1.2 million in the town's capital budget to transform the club into a museum dedicated to an African-American Coast Guard Station — the second in the country — that once stood at the site.

The African American Station, according to the Hampton Bays Historical Society, was born in 1915, closing on June 9, 1937, then reactivated during WWII. It closed for good in 1944.

The money set aside by the town on Tuesday will also be used to construct a 500-foot boardwalk that will connect the Neptune's ocean-front property to the town's Tiana Beach property.

In addition, the site will feature a concession stand.

Prior to Tuesday's meeting, it was unclear what would happen to the property — there were discussions of the town buying it and renting it out as a restaurant, but one thing was clear during public hearings — neighbors of the club said they were done with the loud parties at the site.

Patch wants to know: What do you think of the town's plan to turn Neptunes into a museum, complete with a boardwalk? Comment below.


Related Reading:


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here