Wading River, NY [Neighborhood Guide]

Get to know Wading River

In 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 both its rural roots and suburban expansion, still with acre upon acre of natural wilds to discover.

Nearby Neighborhoods:

Wading River Commerce & Culture

Is Wading River part of the North Fork? In the sense that it is physically not on the North Fork, no, Wading River is not part of the North Fork. But with plentiful farm stands and access to nature, spiritually speaking, Wading River is part of the North Fork. A chunk of the hamlet’s commerce sits above Route 25A and below North Wading River Road, where restaurants, shops, and even a country general store await. An impressive number of farms are set along the length of Route 25A in Wading River, covering a wide swath of both the fruit and vegetable spectrums with their offerings. Wildwood State Park resides in the northeastern corner of Wading River, open for year-round outdoor endeavors that include biking, hiking, cross-country skiing, and fishing. The park also opens out to a beach spanning the hamlet’s Long Island Sound-bordering northern edge.