From conquered British fort to verdant North Shore hamlet
In the dark of an October night in 1781, American soldiers surrounded Fort Slongo, raiding and destroying the Revolutionary War fort that British forces had constructed high above the Long Island Sound. Centuries removed from when troops landed on Crab Meadow Beach, the modern hamlet of Fort Salonga recalls this chapter of history in its name, a street bearing the surname of one of the first recipients of the Purple Heart and in the preserved, hilly green spaces rolling up to the bluffs along the sound. “In Fort Salonga, you get more of a rural feeling. Most of the properties are an acre or two,” says Arlene Weil, an associate broker at Compass Greater New York who specializes in western Suffolk County. “There’s a lot of kayaking, you can walk your dog on the beach after hours – it's a much quieter atmosphere, but you’re literally 10 minutes from the marinas and restaurants in Northport.” While military tactics are not a factor for today's residents, Fort Salonga and its geography still provide strategic advantages; a bounty of landlocked and waterfront parks, the major north-south connector of the Sunken Meadow Parkway and the highly rated school districts on both the Smithtown and Huntington sides of the hamlet have fortified community life on this stretch of the North Shore into the 21st century.
Fort Salonga is steeped in rich history.
These Fort Salonga homes have waterfront access with the safety of elevation.
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Beaches and golf courses at Crab Meadow and Sunken Meadow state parks
Fort Salonga’s waterfront is lined with beaches and green spaces, including Crab Meadow Beach, one of the hamlet’s busier sections of shoreline thanks to its openness to all Huntington residents, large parking lot, playground and broader stretches of sandy-and-pebble beaches than are found on neighboring North Shore beaches. A few golf courses make use of the slopes and Long Island Sound views found throughout Fort Salonga, and even more sit just outside the hamlet. Members gain access to an 18-hole course and clubhouse at the Indian Hills Country Club. Open to the public, the Sunken Meadow Golf Course’s three nine-hole courses make up the western edge of its namesake state park. Away from the golf course, visitors explore the rest of Sunken Meadow State Park, traveling down wooded trails on bikes and on foot or looking out over the coastline toward Connecticut from the boardwalk. On a few Sunday mornings through the summer, the Abiding Presence Lutheran Church holds services at a Sunken Meadow boardwalk shelter.
Make a nice approach at Crab Meadow Golf Course in Fort Salonga.
Take a walk or jog on the boardwalk at Sunken Meadow State Park.
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Single-family homes on acre-plus lots in Fort Salonga
While housing styles in Fort Salonga have the variety one would expect of a Long Island suburb built up over the course of the past century, shady, forested lots and sunny, mowed lawns are common vistas throughout the hamlet. Except for on a few streets near the more densely zoned Northport and Kings Park, Fort Salonga’s single-family homes typically sit on an acre or more of land. Older, more basic single-family homes, like Cape Cods, ranch-style homes and colonials built from the prewar era through the 1970s, sell for $600,000 to $1.2 million. Large New Traditional homes built from the 1990s through 2020s, as well as a handful of expanded, highly renovated older homes, sell for $850,000 to $2.7 million. Many properties are positioned near a waterfront, ranging from the blufftop views of the Long Island Sound to overlooks of more placid ponds and wetlands. Fort Salonga has a CAP Index crime score of 1 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
This is a well maintained ranch home in Fort Salonga.
This cozy ranch is nestled between the trees of Fort Salonga.
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Attending highly rated Kings Park and Northport-East Northport schools
Fort Salonga is split between the attendance zones for Kings Park Central School District and Northport-East Northport Union Free School District along Bread and Cheese Hollow Road. To the east in Smithtown, kids attend Kings Park’s Fort Salonga Elementary School for kindergarten through third grade which earns an A from Niche, followed by R.J.O. Intermediate School for fourth through fifth grades which earns an A-minus. William T. Rogers Middle School serves sixth through eighth grades and earns an A, and ninth through 12th graders finish up at Kings Park High School which earns an A-minus. To the west in the town of Huntington, students attend Northport-East Northport Union Free School District which earns an A overall.
This is the main entrance to Norwood Avenue School.
William T Rogers School has plenty of space for students to achieve their best results.
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Shopping and dining on Route 25A
While nature preserves, parks and private plots make up the bulk of Fort Salonga, New York State Route 25A snakes through the hamlet, lined by occasional strip malls and standalone stores and restaurants. Near the center of Fort Salonga, IGA Fort Salonga Market and CVS provide essentials, separated by Intermezzo Trattoria and Wine Bar, a small Italian restaurant, and Village Deli and Bakery, a cozy spot for a quick bagel or breakfast sandwich. Closer to Northport, Arlo Kitchen & Bar curates upscale dinner and cocktail menus, settling patrons in a dining room with ritzy, contemporary ambiance centered around a piano where a live musician plays on Thursday evenings. The popular marina-side shopping and dining district in Northport is a few miles away.
Enjoy a craft cocktail before dinner at Arlo Kitchen and Bar in Fort Salonga.
Fort Salonga Market has an amazing selection of produce.
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Fort Salonga Civic Association events
Formed in 1945, the Fort Salonga Civic Association has brought together civilian leaders interested in improving and maintaining Fort Salonga’s community life for nearly 80 years. Beyond keeping neighbors up to date on potential developments, the association also brings the hamlet together at a handful of small events throughout the year. In the spring, the grounds of Fort Salonga Elementary School are filled with thousands of candy-stuffed eggs and dozens of local kids taking part in the annual Fort Salonga Easter Egg Hunt. In December, IGA provides the hotdogs and venue, Village Deli and Bagelry brings the hot chocolate and Kings Park High School students supply the soundtrack for the annual Holiday Caroling event, often visited by Santa Claus and other festively dressed characters.
Driving south on Sunken Meadow State Parkway and the LIRR
New York City commuters head south on connective roads to the Southern State Parkway during the roughly 50-mile drive into Manhattan. “I'm north of 25A in Huntington – living north, it can be a little bit of a challenge to get to the nearest parkway. What’s nice about Fort Salonga is you’re close to Sunken Meadow State Parkway which gives you that convenience,” Weil says. Nearby Northport is home to a couple of other commuter hubs, including the Northport VA Medical Center and Northport Long Island Rail Road Station which provides train service to Penn Station in an hour and 30 minutes.
The Sunken Meadow Parkway makes it easy to access Fort Salonga.
Travel to NYC or points east from nearby Kings Park Station.
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