News Release
Mike Busch
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Contact: Elizabeth Rogers
Contact: James Dunphy, 631-687-4756
Patchogue, NY – The National Park Service (NPS) announced today that Love Watch Hill and Sailors Haven, Inc. has been selected to operate concessions for the 2018 season at Fire Island National Seashore’s Watch Hill and Sailors Haven locations. Both marinas will open May 18, with advanced booking and expanded food service available in the coming weeks.
“We are excited to have both sites up and running this season,” said the Seashore’s Facility Manager Jim Dunphy. A multimillion dollar project to replace electrical and lighting systems damaged by Hurricane Sandy required the closure of Watch Hill in 2017. Mr. Dunphy, who oversaw the recently completed project said, “with the opening of Watch Hill we can close the chapter on Hurricane Sandy recovery at Fire Island National Seashore.”
Doug Biviano, president of Love Watch Hill and Sailors Haven, Inc. said he has, “spent the past 18 summers on an old sailboat with his family at Fire Island,” and is, “eager to share his passion for this place with others.” Love Watch Hill and Sailors Haven, Inc. will offer a small number of seasonal slips at Watch Hill, and is working to finalize an advanced booking option for both marinas. There will be a phased opening at both marinas to allow for repair of pilings damaged by ice over the past winter.
Love Watch Hill and Sailors Haven, Inc. will run the marina, snack bar, restaurant, camp store, and campground at Watch Hill; and the marina and snack bar at Sailors Haven in 2018. Campsites at the Watch Hill family tent campground will be available to walk-ins May 18 on a first come, first served basis. More information on the marina and campground reservation systems will be available soon through LoveFins.com.
On May 18, the NPS visitor centers and restrooms at Watch Hill and Sailors Haven will be fully operational. As more details on the concessions services at Watch Hill and Sailors Haven become available, updates will be posted to NPS.gov/FIIS and @FireIslandNPS on Facebook.
Watch Hill is located on the western edge of the Otis Pike Fire Island High Dune Wilderness, directly across the Great South Bay from Patchogue on Long Island. The Watch Hill Marina opened in 1967 and has 175 public slips, the majority of which accommodate between 10 and 14 foot beams and offer 120 and 208 volt service. There are 23 slips which accommodate 15- to 18- foot beams and offer 208 volt service. For more information, please visit https://www.nps.gov/fiis/planyourvisit/watchhill.htm
Sailors Haven is located adjacent to the globally rare Sunken Forest, across the Great South Bay from Sayville on Long Island. The 45-slip marina can accommodate boats with beams between 10 and 18 feet. All slips have electric and water. For more information, please visit https://www.nps.gov/fiis/planyourvisit/sailorshaven.htm
Last updated: May 11, 2018