Fire Island has the magical quality of a simpler, gentler time. Residents and visitors know how special it is and are devoted to keeping it that way.
The beaches on this 32 mile-long barrier island on The Atlantic Ocean are considered to be one of the most beautiful in the world. We all think so too.
Free of cars except for emergency vehicles in the summer, it remains wild, unspoiled, and pristine.
There are so many Fire Islands – quiet family villages, party towns where anything goes, LGBT communities, private enclaves, singles towns and everything in between. Everyone can find the right town for them to enjoy the wonders of this place.
Back in the 30’s, activist residents stopped Robert Moses from building a highway through the island. This miracle created the separation for each community to develop its own character.
With only about a third of its land inhabited, there are wide stretches of wilderness and an abundance of wildlife calls it home. Designated as National Seashore, Fire Island is well protected.
The deer continue to tolerate us, the birds keep singing and the raccoons keep raiding our trash cans. But we all manage to live together. Explore the flora and fauna of Fire Island
There are several theories on how Fire Island got its name. One theory is it was named after the inlet on its western end, which was then called “Five Islands”, the number of small islands then at the mouth of the inlet. But over time “Five” may have been read as “Fire” because in old maps, a “v” looks similar to an r. It could actually have been a typo!
Another theory is that fires built on the beaches by the early inhabitants gave the island its name. Native Americans signaled for supplies by lighting fires; whalers used fires to guide their ships into the inlet and to boil blubber into oil.
Some say that pirates lit fires on the beaches to lure ships to shore to be plundered.
Yet another idea is that the Native Americans named it for the fiery rash they acquired from the poison ivy which grows in profusion to this day.
No one knows for sure, but somewhere along the way, this amazing stretch of land came to be known as Fire Island.
Remarkably, Fire Island can be reached in less than 2 hours from downtown Manhattan, making it a refuge from the stresses of New York life. View Directions to Fire Island
The casual lifestyle, unpretentious atmosphere and absence of cars makes Fire Island both a legendary party destination and an oasis for peace and relaxation.
There are quite a few year-rounders in the 21 towns and villages, but the summer brings the majority of the residents.
The Atlantic Ocean beaches are spectacular for swimming, boogie-boarding, fishing, yoga, strolling, kayaking, windsurfing, Kadema playing, surfing, sandcastle building and often, napping.
The Great South Bay to our north abounds with sailors, boaters and little kids trying to catch minnows.
Then of course, there’s always the jaw-dropping sunsets.
Find out more about each Town or Village, get maps, directions, weather and tide tables, sightseeing and find businesses.
