The Off-Season

A Season of Change

In the fall, the Pines takes on a new rhythm. The days shorten, the breezes become crisper, and the sun moves to set over the ocean. There’s less foot traffic on the boardwalks, and fireplaces scent the air. In this seasonal shift, the community transforms as businesses begin to close and residents leave, not to return until the following spring. It is the beginning of the “Off-Season” in the Pines.

Tuna Walk. Photo credit: Sean Basil McGiver

There’s no ‘closing date’ for the season in the Pines. Decades ago, once the weather turned cool, most people left the island. However, as the 2000s hit their stride there has been a noticeable shift.

Driven by rising homeownership, better-appointed houses, and the availability of high-speed internet, more people are extending their stays.

As entertainment venues shutter, the social scene increasingly gravitates toward Sip N Twirl, which remains open until almost the end of October.

Fall Tea at Sip ‘N’ Twirl. Photo credit: Virun Rampersad

The season wind down is gradual. House shares end and rental homes close. Pools and hot tubs are serviced and covered, outdoor furniture is stacked away, pipes are winterized and refrigerators are emptied, often providing a feast for the deer.

With housemates gone, many homeowners use this time to host relaxed dinners for friends and catch up on the season’s happenings.

Fall Pines Family Dinner. Photo credit: Virun Rampersad

As longtime homeowner Paul Zeman put it:

“We love the high energy of summer, but also cherish the quieter times when we can break bread with other homeowners, share stories and unpack the season’s gossip.”

Paul Zeman. Photo credit: Crispin Sheridan

In October big dance parties are scarce, with the exception of the Halloween Closing Party at Sip ‘N’ Twirl. A long standing tradition on the Saturday before Halloween weekend, it used to be a way for the few who stuck it out until October to the end the season with a bang. Held following FIPPOA’s annual potluck closing dinner party, it has grown into a huge bash. The place is packed with costumed clad revelers, and the DJ plays a mix of summer hits and classics.

Revelers at the Halloween Party. Photo credit: Virun Rampersad

One regular attendee, Greg Evans, had this to say: “In the mid-2000s the place would be about half full. Today, it’s totally jammed, inside and on the decks. Everyone is in costume, the decorations are over the top, and the energy is electric!”

When the last vampire leaves the party, things quieten down. For many, this is their last weekend for the season. When the Pines Pantry closes and ferry service thins, the drop off is even more dramatic.

Photo credit: Sean Basil McGiver

The Pines, however, is never completely deserted. Since its earliest days, there have been people who come out year round, some even making it their full time home. Today this group is growing; more homeowners are making use of their houses longer, with volume peaking at Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve, where the parties are packed.

For the most part, however, the off-season residents are people who enjoy the quiet, rustic peace of the late fall and winter. Their houses are properly winterized and they’ve stocked up on food and beverages. Long time resident Scott Bromley put it this way:

“The winter beach is beautiful! I especially love it when it snows! Without the crowds it’s fun to poke around and make heartwarming meals. I always say, no matter what the time of the year, the best part of New York is Fire Island.”

Snow in the Tea House at Scott Bromley’s home. Photo credit: Scott Bromley.

Eric Sawyer, who has spent over twenty years in the Pines has a similarly romantic view:

“There’s nothing like making the first footprints in a foot of snow. The beach is also stunning, especially at sunset - the reflection off the ocean tide is an image that knocks you out. Combine these things with making dinner, playing board games, watching movies and having sex in front of the wood burning stove and you have an unforgettable Fire Island weekend!”

Sun setting on the ocean. Photo credit: Virun Rampersad

In the off-season most of the Pines community return to their primary homes, and some head to winter nests in places like Fort Lauderdale, South Beach, Puerto Rico, and Palm Springs. In the past many housemates did not reconnect until the new season. However, with the advent of mobile phones and social media platforms that has changed.

As former Pines resident Jonathan Baum noted:

“In my early years it was rare for housemates to get together post-season. In fact, there was a scene about that in the play ‘End of the World Party’ which came out in 2000. Today, I see groups of housemates together at restaurants and parties throughout the winter. It’s like summer never ended.”

End of the World Party Poster. Courtesy Variety Magazine.

One of the unwelcome changes in recent years is the increasingly severe impact of climate change. The rising water table sometimes causes flooding in low lying homes and public access roads. Further, late season storms and Nor’easters have become more frequent and severe, eroding the beach and damaging both public and private property. In both Super Storm Sandy in 2012 and a Nor’easter in 2023 the island was breached, with sea waters flowing over the island and into the Great South Bay, creating floods in the yards of some bay front homes. Elsewhere, some houses lost pools and fences, and a couple had damage to their electrical systems.

Beach damage from Nor’Easters in 2023. Photo credit: John Roca.

The devastation caused by the 2023 winter storms was particularly severe leading the Fire Island Pines Property Owners Association (FIPPOA), in partnership with the community of Seaview, to make a successful effort to get the federal government to rebuild the beaches. Further, they secured a landmark $1.7 Billion in the capital budget in 2025 from New York State that will fund maintenance of Long Island’s South Shore beaches, including Fire Island. This groundbreaking accomplishment will ensure the beach is maintained for the next quarter century.

Traditionally, the off-season is when many homeowners do renovations on their houses. With the high level of home sales in the Pines since COVID, this volume has increased tremendously. Nowadays, Monday through Friday throughout the winter the boardwalks are trafficked with contractors and their staff, and the sounds of hammering fill the air. Come April, the fruits of their labors greet returning residents, becoming the topic of discussion at many early season gatherings.

Hot tub installation. Photo credit: Win Chesson

It’s worth noting, construction on a barrier island is difficult no matter when it’s done. However, with the increasing severity of winter it’s even harder.

Apart from the challenges of working in inclement weather, freezes in the Great South Bay impedes people and freight from getting to and from the island.

Harbor in snow. Photo credit: Karen Boss.

This can delay projects, creating a domino effect that always leads to a scramble in April when residents begin to return.

Bill Katen, who has been in Pines construction for over six decades stated:

“Construction on a barrier island in the Northeast United States is difficult, especially in winter. I’ve learned over the years to get in front of any potential problems, because while homeowners understand the challenge, their priority is getting the work done before the next season.”

Bill Katen with his wife Doreen. Photo credit: Virun Rampersad

Another consequence of the drop off in human residents during the winter is deer, foxes and other wildlife get bolder and run free – sometimes into people’s houses if gates are left open or there are breaks in the fencing. This can lead to unpleasant consequences.

Photo credit: Unknown,

Steve Norring, a longtime homeowner shared:

“One spring we returned to the house to find that a deer had fallen into the pool and drowned. It had happened quite a while ago by the looks of things. It was quite a mess, but on the plus side, it gave me the motivation to renovate the pool and change the liner.”

Steve Norring. Photo credit: Virun Rampersad

When the spring thaw happens and buds begin to appear, many Pines residents sense the change and grow restless.

Longtime homeowner Geoff Capes, a senior banking executive, said this:

“It’s hard to explain. The feeling starts in early March and soon I am walking into the offices of my colleagues who also own homes in the Pines, and all I can think about is ‘When can we open?’”

Geoff Capes’ famous ‘Flamingo House’ in the Pines. Photo credit: Virun Rampersad

One thing that has not changed over the years is the question on virtually every homeowner’s minds when they open for the season: “How did my house fare over the winter?”

No matter how carefully you close up, there’s always the chance that something has gone awry—a burst pipe, cracked boards, or a malfunctioning appliance. Even if the house itself comes through unscathed, there’s almost always work to do. Yards are often littered with branches, leaves and sometimes fallen trees. Also, over the winter, bugs or small critters sometimes burrow inside, leaving a trail of debris behind.

In response to the cleanup need, the property owners association, working with the town of Brookhaven, has begun to provide dumpsters and chippers on specific days for residents to get rid of yard waste and household items. Also, more house cleaning businesses offer opening services. Daniela Moreno Salazar who owns Los Pinos Cleaning Services, LLC, had this to say:

“It’s a beach house in the Pines. Over the winter things happen. Bugs and other things crawl in, windows get dirty, and there’s coating of dust everywhere. It’s no fun to walk into a mess, which is why we do a pre-season clean of everything - windows, kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and utensils - so our clients can get settled in quickly.”

Daniela Moreno Salazar, owner of Los Pinos Cleaning Services, LLC. Photo courtesy of: Daniela Moreno Salazar

The simple truth is the Pines is never dormant in the Off-Season. It’s a season of change—some welcome, some not so much. It underscores the fact that owning a house here (or anywhere on Fire Island) is not for the faint of heart. It’s costly, carries risk, and comes with more than its share of unglamorous chores. Yet ask almost any Pines homeowner, and they’ll tell you it’s worth it. For them, this place is beauty, joy, love, and freedom all rolled into one. Even with the challenges, most consider themselves lucky to put down roots in such a rare place. As one longtime owner put it:

“The Pines is the kind of place where even at the end of a stressful opening day, you’re inclined sit down with a beverage and toast: ‘There’s no place like home!’”