John Starin, a shipping magnate in New York in the 1870s, purchased Glen Island, a 50-acre estate just off New Rochelle in Long Island Sound, in 1879. He built on the island an enormous amusement park with dining pavilions, bathing beaches, a zoo, a German castle and many other attractions. Starin’s steamboats brought thousands of New Yorkers up to New Rochelle to enjoy Glen Island’s many delights. The Disney World of its day, the resort proved to be one of Westchester’s most successful day resorts, lasting into the early years of the 20th century. It was bought by Westchester County in 1923 for use as a county park.

This record is also associated with:
City of New Rochelle