Great Island: A Great Escape
Barely an hour from Manhattan but a world away from the stresses of the city, Connecticut’s Great Island and the surrounding area offer the best of both worlds
Barely an hour from Manhattan but a world away from the stresses of the city, Connecticut’s Great Island and the surrounding area offer the best of both worlds
Bordered by 14 acres of conservation land and surrounded by the deep waters of Long Island Sound, the 63-acre, aptly named Great Island is the closest and largest private land mass to New York City. Linked to the charming colonial town of Darien, Connecticut—one of the most sophisticated, desirable, and exclusive suburbs along the Gold Coast—by a land bridge, the island is just one hour by road and 45 minutes by rail from Manhattan.
Great Island offers a wonderfully peaceful hideaway that still has great links to the bright lights of New York
“The minute you cross the bridge, your heart rate slows and you relax. This is a sanctuary for birds, and often the only sounds you’ll hear are birds singing—hummingbirds nest there—and the waves lapping the rocky shore and scenic beaches. But the thing about Great Island is that it offers the best of both worlds—a wonderfully peaceful hideaway that still has great links, by road, rail, or sea, to the bright lights of New York.”
Life of leisure
Not that you need to venture far for recreation. Darien is one of the wealthiest communities in the US, and its restaurants and amenities, as well as those of its neighbors, reflect that. The Homestead Inn, a world-class French restaurant in Greenwich run by multi-award-winning chef Thomas Henkelmann, is an ever-popular choice, as is Bedford’s La Crémaillère, described as the “picture-perfect Provençal country inn,” by Town & Country Magazine.
For shopping, residents recommend Darien institution Palmer’s for its wonderful food, flowers, and high-end catering. The renowned Greenwich Avenue, the East Coast’s version of Beverly Hills’ Rodeo Drive, has Saks Fifth Avenue, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Tiffany & Co, Betteridge, Longchamp, Hermès, and RH Greenwich, The Gallery at The Historic Post Office—a 23,000 square-foot space showcasing exquisite furniture.
Those not wishing to travel the short distance to Manhattan will still find much to enjoy close to home
Cultural delights complement culinary, retail, and sporting ones: New York, of course, draws international crowds, with Lincoln Center, Broadway, and its “museum mile,” where you’ll find some of the most famous museums in the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Guggenheim, The Frick Collection, and the Met Breuer, to name but a few.
And when is a house not a house? When it is The Glass House—an extraordinary flight of fancy made real. Built over 37 years by the architect Philip Johnson, it is an ensemble of 13 structures, each with its own distinct character and purpose, including a painting house and a sculpture gallery, surrounded by 40 acres of beautiful grounds. All this and more is within easy reach of the estate.
Adventure begins at home
Great Island itself promises adventure—on land, sea, or in the air. There are acres of mature woods and beaches to explore, long walks to enjoy, and water sports such as fishing, yachting, and water-skiing. Equestrian enthusiasts will be thrilled with the indoor jumping ring—one of several riding arenas on the property—as well the practice polo field.
There are some wonderful mansions along the Gold Coast but only one Great Island
Villa Juliette, the main house, which has 10 bedrooms, is built entirely of stone and has spectacular views of the Sound in all directions. “You reach it via a half-mile driveway that sweeps through an allée and past expansive lawns,” adds Ogilvy.
“Great Island is remarkable,” says Ogilvy. “It was acquired by the industrialist William Ziegler, who made his fortune from baking powder, in 1902 and has been in the Ziegler family ever since. Ziegler used Villa Juliette as a summer house, but various members of the family have lived here over the past century.”