The Barnyard to close in Hampton Bays

The Barnyard Hampton Bays, the seasonal beer garden that took over the former Boardy Barn property in 2023, will not return next season after  this summer's run comes to a close. 

The business thanked customers for their support in an Instagram post shared Monday and said this summer would mark its last year in operation. "For many years, the Red and White tent on Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays has been home to great memories, good times and endless beers served," the post stated. "You know the old saying, 'if walls could talk.' "

The Hampton Bays bar will close permanently Sept. 6 after its final event. Until then, The Barnyard will remain open on Sundays starting at 2 p.m. and on select Friday nights.

John Lugano, co-owner of The Barnyard, said the closure is connected to plans to redevelop the property into a 68-room boutique hotel with a restaurant, pool and bar. In March, the Southampton Town Board approved a hotel overlay district that includes the former Boardy Barn site at 270 Montauk Hwy. He said the business is grateful for the support it received during its three-year run.

"It’s been nothing but a positive experience," Lugano said. "We wish the property owners the best of luck and we’re thankful for the opportunity they gave us."

The outdoor venue opened on the iconic Hampton Bays property after the closure of the Boardy Barn, the longtime Hamptons party destination that drew crowds under its signature red-and-white tent for more than 50 years before closing in 2021. The Barnyard’s operators worked to preserve much of the atmosphere that made Boardy Barn famous while renovating the property, expanding food and drink offerings and offering family-friendly events.

Boardy Barn, founded in 1970, became one of Long Island’s most recognizable summer destinations, known for cheap beer, live music and its trademark smiley-face stickers. The venue closed in 2021, and the property was sold the following year. The Barnyard opened for its inaugural season two years later.