Stunning Homes

“An Exclusive Location in CT”

Searching for a private island near New York City? Well, there are eight of them situated off the shore of Branford. Thimble Islands archipelago hit the market in 2016 for $78 million and since then devalued to $50 million.

It is a chain of more than 350 islands in Stony Creek Harbor, in Long Island Sound. Records for the early 18th century mention “Thimble Islands” as the name of this archipelago. Previously, it was known as the “Hundred Islands.”

The name apparently comes from thimbleberries found in the region. The Dutch voyager, Adrian Block ‘found’ the islands in the early 1600s, but Mattabesek Indians knew them long before settlers arrived.

Today, the occupied islands have neighborhood occupants, independent ventures, but remain filed with fables and history.

The islands, albeit used for private purposes, have lots to offer. Yale University possesses Horse Island as premises for the eco lab of Yale’s Peabody Museum of Natural History. Moreover, Bear Island has a rock quarry which, previously, traded stone to assemble historic projects like the Lincoln Memorial, Grant’s Tomb, and the foundation of the Statue of Liberty.

There is likewise a water taxi that transports you to and from the islands. More than 50 years ago, the Svenningsen family bought their first property here called West Crib. Christine Svenningsen presently claims almost 50% of the occupied properties on the islands.

Rogers Island, the biggest island, features a 13,000-square-foot house, pool, tennis court, and a golf course planned by Jack Nicklaus.

It’s being offered along the portfolio or as a standalone unit at $35 million. Past and current occupants include President William Howard Taft, General Tom Thumb, and Garry Trudeau and Jane Pauley.