Southerly Estate Long Island

Picture this: You’re lost on Long Island, your GPS has given up, and suddenly you stumble through a stone gate into a land that time—and common sense—forgot. Welcome to the Southerly Estate, a 57-acre playground of crumbling grandeur that looks like Gatsby got into a fistfight with a haunted mansion. It’s not just a house; it’s a fever dream made of concrete and pigeon droppings.

Built in the 1920s for a soap magnate named William S. Barstow, this place was designed to flex on the neighbors. Barstow was so rich he probably wiped his tears with $100 bills—and he built a mansion that cost a staggering $10 million in today’s money. That’s enough to buy all the avocados you’ll ever eat, plus a small European country.

The "Oops, We Forgot the Insurance" Era

Here’s where it gets juicy: the estate was abandoned in the 1970s after a fire roasted the main house like a marshmallow. Instead of rebuilding, the owners did what any sensible person would do—they left it to rot for 50 years. Now, the place is a glorious dump where vines crawl through windows like hungry snakes.

Local legends claim the estate is haunted by the ghost of a crying maid. I’ll bet she’s not crying about the fire—she’s probably weeping over the indoor shooting range that’s still buried somewhere in the woods. Yes, an indoor shooting range. Because when you’re a millionaire, skeet shooting in your living room is just home decor.

Surprising Facts That Will Blow Your Flip-Flops Off

Did you know the estate has a boathouse shaped like a Greek temple? It sits on a lake that was man-made, because why have a natural lake when you can bulldoze one like a benevolent dictator? Also, the property once had a private golf course, which is now a forest of poison ivy and ambition.

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But the weirdest fact? The estate’s pool was built with underwater lights shaped like stars. Sadly, the pool is now a swampy mosquito nursery. Local teens call it "The Puddle of Regret." I’m not making this up—they also claim the water glows green under a full moon.

Why You Should Care (And Maybe Not Visit)

Today, the Southerly Estate is a popular spot for urban explorers, TikTok ghost hunters, and people who really, really need a tetanus shot. You can’t legally enter, but that hasn’t stopped anyone. The fence has more holes than a Swiss cheese conspiracy theory.

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One explorer told me he found a rusted chandelier still hanging from a ceiling beam. Another claimed she saw a stuffed peacock in the attic. I believe both stories because this estate is basically a museum of "What Were They Thinking?" The place even has a secret tunnel that supposedly leads to a beach. Spoiler: it leads to poison ivy.

The Punchline

In 2022, the estate was sold to a developer who promises to turn it into a luxury hotel. Translation: they’ll bulldoze the creepy charm and replace it with overpriced matcha lattes. So if you want to see the ghost of 1920s excess, go now—before it becomes a spa for influencers.

Just wear long pants. And bring a flashlight. And maybe a lawyer, because that fence is technically private property. But hey, if you get arrested, at least you’ll have a story better than anyone else’s at brunch.