Fire Island Pines, Gay resort community on Fire Island, New York.
Fire Island Pines is a residential community on a barrier island off Long Island, New York, covering roughly 1.6 square kilometers with approximately 600 private homes and a large condominium building. The area borders wide sandy beaches with access to the Atlantic Ocean.
The land was purchased in 1924 by the Home Guardian Company and developed into a planned residential community between the 1920s and 1950s. This transformation marked the shift from an undeveloped barrier island to an organized settlement.
This community has served as a major gathering place for LGBTQ+ people for decades, shaping the social fabric of the island. Visitors experience an open and welcoming environment reflected in the local venues, events, and sense of community throughout the area.
Access is available through regular ferry service from Sayville on the mainland, which can involve a lengthy journey depending on conditions. Within the community itself only boardwalks and footpaths exist, so walking is the main way to get around.
The name comes from pine trees that grew after a 19th-century shipwreck, when Christmas trees washed ashore and took root on the island. This unusual origin story explains how the area got its distinctive name.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
