Cherry Grove, New York facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cherry Grove
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| Nickname(s):
The Grove
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 Cherry Grove, New York
Location in New York
Cherry Grove, New York
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | New York |
| County | Suffolk |
| Town | Brookhaven |
| Time zone | UTC−05:00 (Eastern Time Zone) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−04:00 |
| ZIP Code |
11782
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| Area code(s) | 631, 934 |
| GNIS feature ID | 946512 |
Cherry Grove, often called the Grove, is a small community in Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is a type of town called a hamlet. You can find it on Fire Island, which is a narrow strip of land (a barrier island) that protects Long Island from the ocean. The Great South Bay separates Fire Island from Long Island.
Cherry Grove has about 300 houses spread across 41 acres (about 16.5 hectares). In the summer, its population grows to about 2,000 people. Only about 15 people live there all year round. Cherry Grove is known as a welcoming place for everyone, especially during the summer.
Contents
History of Cherry Grove
Cherry Grove has a long history, dating back almost 150 years.
How Cherry Grove Started
The modern history of Cherry Grove began in 1868. That year, Archer and Elizabeth Perkinson bought the land. They paid only 25 cents per acre for the area between Lone Hill (now Fire Island Pines) and the Cherry Grove Hotel. They named the area after the many black-cherry trees growing there. The Perkinsons opened a hotel in 1880. It is said that famous writer Oscar Wilde might have stayed at their hotel.
Cherry Grove in the 20th Century
In 1921, the Perkinsons sold a large part of their land. They then divided the rest into 109 building lots. You could buy a lot for as little as $250. Some buildings from a military camp, Camp Upton, were moved to Cherry Grove to help build the new community.
A post office opened in 1922. The first wooden walkways, called boardwalks, were built in 1929. In 1930, Duffy’s Hotel replaced the original hotel. It was the only place in Cherry Grove with electricity and a phone.
The Great Hurricane of 1938
A very strong storm, the Great Hurricane of 1938, caused a lot of damage in Cherry Grove. This storm made many people from the mainland stop visiting. But new visitors from Manhattan started coming instead. Famous people like Greta Garbo and Xavier Cugat were among them.
Duffy’s Hotel burned down in 1956. The Ice Palace Hotel was built in its place and is still a popular spot today. A developer named John Eberhardt helped build many other buildings in Cherry Grove, including the Belvedere Hotel, from 1956 to the 1970s.
Exploring Cherry Grove's Neighborhoods
Cherry Grove has one post office that is open only during the summer, from May 1 to October 12. It is a popular meeting spot. The ZIP Code for Cherry Grove is 11782.
Even though Cherry Grove is small (about 41 acres), it has a few different areas:
- The West End is a quiet area with homes. About 100 houses with stone chimneys are here. This is where the few year-round residents live. It was once home to artist Paul Cadmus.
- The Town is the main business area. It has the Fire House, Community Center, the Ice Palace Resort, a clinic, and the public ferry dock. You can also find shops, bars, and restaurants here. This area is more crowded than other parts of Cherry Grove. A big fire in 2015 damaged some buildings here, but they have since been rebuilt.
- The East End is mostly private homes, with about 100 houses. Most of these are used only in the summer. The northeastern part of the East End has a few homes and the Belvedere Guest House. Some properties here have their own docks.
Cherry Grove has two main walkways that run parallel to the beach: Bayview Walk and Lewis Walk. There are also sixteen smaller walkways that go from the bay to the ocean.
Fun Things to Do in Cherry Grove
The Community House is a central place in Cherry Grove. It offers many services and activities. In 2013, the Cherry Grove Community House and Theatre was recognized as a historic place. This was because of its important role in making Cherry Grove known as a welcoming community.
Outdoor Adventures
The main outdoor attraction is the beach. It is part of the Fire Island National Seashore, a protected area. You can enjoy the sun and sand here.
Food and Entertainment
Cherry Grove has several restaurants where you can find everything from pizza to seafood. There are also places for entertainment, including plays, art shows, dancing, and fun drag shows.
Community Events
People in Cherry Grove are very involved in their community. They hold charity events and an Awards Night. The Arts Project of Cherry Grove hosts a flea market and other fun events. Many people volunteer their time to help the community.
Yearly Celebrations
One big event is the "Invasion of the Pines" on Fourth of July weekend. This tradition started in 1976 when a Cherry Grove resident was refused service in nearby Fire Island Pines. Now, people dress up and parade to the Pines in a fun, friendly "invasion."
Cherry Grove also hosts two yearly drag show contests: the Homecoming Queen show around Memorial Day and Miss Fire Island around Labor Day.
Nature and Wildlife
Cherry Grove is part of a pine barrens ecosystem. This means it has many pine trees and unique natural areas.
You will often see deer on Fire Island. They are quite used to people. You might also spot raccoons, foxes, squirrels, and many kinds of birds. The area is named for the many wild cherry trees that bloom every June.
Getting to Cherry Grove
You can only reach Cherry Grove by water. Most people use a passenger ferry or a private water taxi. There is also a small marina for boats. There are no private cars in Cherry Grove. Instead, people get around on wooden boardwalks.
Sayville Ferry Service
You can take the Sayville Ferry from Sayville, New York. The Long Island Rail Road connects Sayville to New York City. From the Sayville train station, you can walk, bike, or take a shuttle or taxi to the ferry dock. If you drive, there are parking lots near the ferry.
Fire Island Water Taxi
Another way to get there is by parking at Robert Moses State Park. From there, you can walk to the Fire Island Lighthouse. The Fire Island Water Taxi can then take you to Cherry Grove. Water taxis also provide rides between different places on Fire Island.
Emergency Services
Cherry Grove Fire Department
The Cherry Grove Fire Department (CGFD) is made up entirely of volunteers. They have a high rating for their fire protection services. Because there are no roads, only narrow boardwalks, regular fire trucks cannot be used. Instead, there are hose sheds next to each of the community's 18 fire hydrants. These sheds hold hoses and tools for firefighters.
If you see a fire or have an emergency, you should call 911. A siren will sound, and pagers will alert the volunteer firefighters. The CGFD also has trained emergency medical technicians (EMTs). They help with medical emergencies and transport patients. Other fire departments from nearby Fire Island communities and the mainland can also help if there is a large fire, like the one in March 2015 that damaged several businesses.
