A Holiday Tradition Opened East Hampton’s Garden Gates

The weekend after Thanksgiving, the East Hampton Historical Society drew residents and second-home owners back for a beloved local tradition: the annual house tour.

On November 28, the society kicked off its 2025 Annual House & Garden Tour with a cocktail party at a private residence in the Devon Colony. This early-20th-century hilltop community overlooks Gardiner’s Bay. On November 29, the main event took place: a self-guided tour of five homes around East Hampton, each chosen to highlight a different aspect of East End architecture and history.

Now in its third decade, the tour serves as an architectural diary for the village. It originated with Allen Schneider, the historical society’s former vice president, and Karen Hensel, the former executive director. What began as a small exploration through a few historic houses has grown to include some of the area’s most notable properties. This includes Grey Gardens, the famous shingled landmark; the starkly white, modernist “White House”; the Woodhouse Playhouse; and Windy Dunes, one of the original homes of the Devon Colony.

Saturday’s tour featured five distinct homes throughout East Hampton. The first home on Cove Hollow Farm Road features a stunning front hall stairway indicative of the owner’s architectural integrity. The Cove Hollow home’s theme is attention to detail, from the rounded window walls and the guest room with a vintage swan-armed rocker to the traditional, English-country estate-style décor. The gardens are designed by Ed Hollander and are accented by the natural-shaped pool with a waterfall.

The award-winning architecture firm, Bates-Masi, designed the second home on La Forest Lane. The uber-modern home is a prime example of cutting-edge architecture, heir to the Hamptons potato-farming past, with large sliding doors reminiscent of area barns. The house sits on two acres overlooking Georgica Pond. Warm oak millwork is found throughout the home with timbered ceilings and light wooden flooring accented by whimsical ceiling fixtures.

The third home on Lily Pond Lane is all about location. The traditional shingle-style home spans almost 6 acres and features a 6-bedroom main house and a 3-bedroom guest cottage. From picture windows with grand views of the ocean to the museum-worthy art collection, the décor throughout varies from more formal rooms to family and child-friendly areas.

The fourth home on Dayton Lane is the oldest home on the tour, built in 1780. Constructed near the end of the Revolutionary War, this home was rumored to have been occupied by British officers during the British occupation of Long Island. Today, the home features a 21st-century lifestyle with a sleek kitchen, large windows, and whimsical local wallpaper. The centerpieces of the house are the original, hand-hewn brick double-sided central fireplaces.

The fifth home on the tour is nestled in Northwest Woods on White Pine Road. One of the ten homes on this street designed by late-Modernist architect Alfred De Vido, this home offers a barn-rustic style with ample glass throughout, making it feel as though one is living right in nature. The décor was curated by the interior designer-owner, featuring unique art and striking light fixtures.

Two of the East Hampton Historical Society’s often overlooked buildings were added to the tour as well: the Town House and the Hook Schoolhouse on Main Street. The Town House is one of the oldest town government buildings to survive on Long Island. The Hook Schoolhouse may have served as the north end schoolhouse in the 18th century and was later used for other purposes, such as a store or home, in the 19th and 20th centuries.

“The homes featured on this year’s tour were both distinctive and captivating. Reflecting the event’s growing popularity over its more than 35-year history, this year’s tour sold out earlier than ever before. The East Hampton Historical Society is deeply grateful to the homeowners who generously opened their doors to the public. It’s a true privilege for our supporters to explore these remarkable properties and admire the thoughtful detail within each one. Our Special Events Committee is already hard at work securing homes for the 2026 tour,” shared Executive Director Steve Long.

For attendees, the experience was immediate as they navigated narrow staircases, examined moldings and mantelpieces, and walked through gardens. The tour accomplished what it always intends to do: pull back the hedges, open the doors, and, for a few hours on a late-autumn weekend, allow the village to see itself — past and present — through its houses and gardens.

Learn more by visiting easthamptonhistory.org.

Ty Wenzel

Co-Publisher & Contributor

Ty Wenzel, a recent breast cancer survivor, started her career as a fashion coordinator for Bloomingdale’s followed by fashion editor for Cosmopolitan Magazine. She was also a writer for countless publications, including having published a memoir (St. Martin's Press) and written features for The New York Times. She is an award-winning writer and designer who covers lifestyle, real estate, architecture and interiors for James Lane Post. She previously worked as a writer and marketing director for The Independent. She has won multiple PCLI and NYPA awards for journalism, social media and design, including best website design and best magazine for James Lane Post, which she co-founded in 2020. Wenzel is also a co-founder of the meditation app for kids, DreamyKid, and the Hamptons social media agency, TWM Hamptons Social Media.