Hamptons “Stilt” Homes Collapsing After Cold Snap

A severe cold wave hit the northeastern U.S., leading to the collapse of the iconic stilt homes in the Hamptons, which have been a fixture for over 70 years. One particularly notable house, located on Long Island’s South Fork in Amagansett, fell into Gardiners Bay on Saturday night.

This abandoned beach house, long recognized for its towering position near the water, could no longer withstand the elements after winter storm Fern wreaked havoc, combined with a prolonged freeze that iced the bay.

Images now show the once-elevated homes partially submerged in icy waters.

This house had been isolated over the bay since around 2004 when steady erosion had stripped away the sandy beach, leaving it completely enveloped by water.

Even though it was somewhat remote, the stilt house had become a well-known landmark and a popular subject for photographs.

According to local tax records, Gary Ryan is identified as the homeowner, though there’s no precise construction date listed. It appears the house likely dates back to the late 1940s or early 1950s, a time when, according to Billy Culbacher, it was mainly a fishing community.

Culbacher mentioned that his sister and brother-in-law, John Easborg, had lived there before it became surrounded. “It was truly a fishing community back then, around 1948 or 1950,” he said, recalling how people from New York City stopped by to build cabins along the shore.

The local newspaper noted that the house, once robustly positioned along the coast, was impacted by continuing coastal erosion.

“It used to sit 100 feet above the water, but now you can barely see the cabin—it’s about 30 feet from shore,” Culbacher added.

In the years leading up to the collapse, there were discussions about whether the stilt house should be condemned due to safety issues and unpaid taxes, even as rising waters elevated its status in local history.

Tom Edmonds, from the Southampton History Museum, remarked that the weathered structure had long been part of the area’s heritage, serving as a silent testament to the community’s past.

Interestingly, just two weeks prior, the Northern Lights had illuminated the night sky behind this house.

This past week marked the first instance of Gardiners Bay freezing over since 2015.

In the aftermath of the collapse, local officials began consulting with state officials about potential emergency measures while considering their next steps.

Easthampton City Councilman Tom Fleit indicated that marine contractors were giving advice on safe site access and managing debris.

“Our priority is to be prepared and prevent issues before they escalate,” Fleit stated.

By Tuesday, most of the ice surrounding the home had broken off and floated away.