Lighthouse Beach
Encyclopedia
Lighthouse Beach is a small section of the Fire Island National Seashore
that is adjacent to Robert Moses State Park
. It is notable for having sections that are officially designated as clothing optional. It is named for the nearby Lighthouse and is the largest recognized clothing optional beach in New York.
The beach is approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) long and can be defined as the ocean facing beach between Robert Moses State Park and the community of Kismet
. Technically, it is in the Town of Islip
.
was extended to Fire Island in 1964, word slowly spread, resulting in the clothing optional usage expanding greatly in the 1970s.
Originally, the entire stretch of beach was clothing optional, however there have been some complaints from users objecting to the nudity going back to the 1980s. These complaints were largely from parents who visited the lighthouse and were surprised by the nudity on the beach.
In 1994, due to negotiations between Friends of Lighthouse Beach and the National Parks Service, the center section was made non-clothing optional or textile so that visitors from the lighthouse who did not want to see nudity could enjoy the beach.
New York State officials estimate that about 30% of the users of RMSP Field 5 avail themselves of the Lighthouse Beach and the Lighthouse itself.
There is signage on the beach at the start of each clothing optional section to alert unsuspecting visitors that "Beyond this point, you may encounter nude sunbathers."
The beach is widely regarded as family friendly.
Fire Island National Seashore
Fire Island National Seashore is a United States National Seashore that protects a section of Fire Island, an approximately long barrier island separated from Long Island by the Great South Bay....
that is adjacent to Robert Moses State Park
Robert Moses State Park (Long Island)
Robert Moses State Park - Long Island is a state park that is located in the state of New York.The park lies in southern Suffolk County on the western end of Fire Island, one of the central barrier Islands off the southern coast of Long Island...
. It is notable for having sections that are officially designated as clothing optional. It is named for the nearby Lighthouse and is the largest recognized clothing optional beach in New York.
The beach is approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) long and can be defined as the ocean facing beach between Robert Moses State Park and the community of Kismet
Kismet, New York
Kismet is an unincorporated hamlet in the town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is the westernmost beach community on Fire Island, immediately west of Saltaire and east of the Fire Island Light...
. Technically, it is in the Town of Islip
Islip (town), New York
The Town of Islip is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York . Located on the south shore of Long Island, the town population was 322,612 at the 2000 census. The smaller, unincorporated hamlet of Islip lies within the town.-Demographics:...
.
Location
History
There are some reports of nudists using the beach in the 1950s, getting to the island by rowboat. After the Robert Moses CausewayRobert Moses Causeway
The Robert Moses Causeway is an long parkway in Suffolk County, New York. The parkway, originally known as the Captree Causeway, connects West Islip on Long Island to the barrier beach islands, such as Captree Island, Jones Beach Island, and the western tip of Fire Island, to the south. It is...
was extended to Fire Island in 1964, word slowly spread, resulting in the clothing optional usage expanding greatly in the 1970s.
Originally, the entire stretch of beach was clothing optional, however there have been some complaints from users objecting to the nudity going back to the 1980s. These complaints were largely from parents who visited the lighthouse and were surprised by the nudity on the beach.
In 1994, due to negotiations between Friends of Lighthouse Beach and the National Parks Service, the center section was made non-clothing optional or textile so that visitors from the lighthouse who did not want to see nudity could enjoy the beach.
Access
Since there is no vehicular traffic permitted in the Seashore, visitors must come in from the Robert Moses State Park in the west or the community of Kismet in the east. There is currently no handicapped access to the beach. In the past, there were accessible ramps from the Westernmost boardwalk, but these have been destroyed by winter storms and have not yet been replaced.New York State officials estimate that about 30% of the users of RMSP Field 5 avail themselves of the Lighthouse Beach and the Lighthouse itself.
There is signage on the beach at the start of each clothing optional section to alert unsuspecting visitors that "Beyond this point, you may encounter nude sunbathers."
The beach is widely regarded as family friendly.