During the earliest days of Wading River, the area drew people in with its plentiful water, rich soil, dense woodlands, and sprawling meadows. It was an ideal, unassuming landscape. In fact, it was so quiet and rustic that, during World War II, the FBI operated out of a Colonial Revival home known as the Benson House or Wading River Radio Station. Set on a bluff overlooking the Long Island Sound, the three-story, red-shingled, wood-frame home made the perfect cover for conducting counterintelligence operations. After the war, Wading River began its modern growth, booming in population after returning service members started putting down roots in the hamlet. Wading River today has a feel that blends its rural roots and suburban expansion, still with acre upon acre of natural wilds to discover.