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Baiting Hollow: Quiet, beachfront community has country vibe, proximity to golf, restaurants

Julie and Jimmy Roventini, of Medford, enjoy some cider on... — Julie and Jimmy Roventini, of Medford, enjoy some cider on the back patio of the Riverhead Cider House in Baiting Hollow. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin

By Arlene GrossSpecial to NewsdayUpdated August 10, 2026 7:45 am

THE SCOOP Surrounded by thousands of acres of preserved land, Baiting Hollow offers a uniquely pastoral setting close to the North Fork's famed offerings.

"It's a beautiful area to live in and offers a great quality of life," said Town of Riverhead Councilman Robert Kern.

The hamlet's proximity to the bay and Long Island Sound attracts many boaters, Kern said. "You're not far from the ocean at all for ocean fishing," he added.

Baiting Hollow residents have access to four town beaches, said Eric Sinensky, of Realty Connect USA.

"It feels like you're in the country, but you're 10 minutes away from the Route 58 corridor," Sinensky said of the commercial district, adding that there are many restaurants, wineries and distilleries nearby and about 10 championship golf courses within a 20-minute drive.

"There's so much to do in the summertime. It's the ultimate place to live on Long Island," Sinensky said.

A gazebo sits at the top of a steep staircase... — A gazebo sits at the top of a steep staircase down to Reeves Beach in Baiting Hollow. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin

The town is currently working on a zoning change to permit golf courses to build rental cottages. This would allow those who "either lived here at one time and were a member of a course and now live in another state to spend the season up here," Kern said.

Part of the purchase of Aquebogue in the late 1600s, Baiting Hollow got its name from a pond where travelers "baited" or watered their horses. The 1825 census listed 261 inhabitants. The population has increased tenfold, with recent estimates of around 2,600 residents.

The area earned a reputation for experimental farming, with local farmers trying their hand at many different crops, including corn, potatoes, cauliflower, mulberry trees and daffodils. In 1923, New York State established the Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center which still operates today on Sound Avenue.

The popular Riverhead Cider House is in Baiting Hollow and... — The popular Riverhead Cider House is in Baiting Hollow and draws visitors with cider, food and ice cream. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin

Theodore Dreiser, author of "An American Tragedy" and "Sister Carrie," was inspired by a 1907 visit to Driftwood, the Baiting Hollow mansion of Wall Street tycoon Joseph G. Robin, to use the setting in a short story titled "Vanity, Vanity." On Sound Avenue east of Fresh Pond Avenue, the manor was torn down in the 1980s and the property is now part of Wildwood State Park. The only remnants are the manor's carriage house and a concrete boundary wall that runs along Sound Avenue.

Homes along Seabreeze Drive, top, and Hornpipe Drive in Baiting... — Homes along Seabreeze Drive, top, and Hornpipe Drive in Baiting Hollow. Credit: Elizabeth Sagarin

SALE PRICES Between June 23, 2025, and June 22, 2026, there were 41 home sales with a median sale price of $668,000, according to OneKey MLS. During the same period a year earlier, there were 42 home sales with a median sale price of $645,000.

CONDOS AND CO-OPS There are 11 condos, priced between $558,000 and $799,000, on the market.

OTHER STATS

Population 2,614

Median age 56.3

Median home value $660,000

Monthly LIRR ticket from Riverhead $487.75

School district, graduation rate Riverhead (76%)

Libraries Riverhead Free Library, Baiting Hollow Free Library

Transit Suffolk County Transit Route 62

Sources: 2024 American Community Survey; OneKey MLS via InfoSparks by ShowingTime; LIRR; data.nysed.gov; Suffolk County Transit

RECENTLY SOLD

$1.6 million