Wildwood State Park in Wading River will soon offer overnight stays in cabins, the New York State Parks Department announced last week.
Construction on 10 units will begin next year and the cabins are expected to open by the 2018 season. The buildings, along with cottages built at Heckscher State Park in East Islip, are the first indoor accommodations offered by Long Island state parks. Wildwood currently only offers sites for tents and trailers.
“Cabins and cottages have long been a popular offering at our parks statewide, but they have never before been available on Long Island,” State Parks commissioner Rose Harvey said in a statement.
“We expect these cabins and cottages to dramatically enhance the appeal of Wildwood and Heckscher state parks to vacationers looking to experience all that Long Island has to offer.”
Wildwood’s cabins will include one- and two-bedroom units that feature a kitchenette, bathroom, furnishings and screened porch. When completed, they will be available to rent between spring and fall.
Located along Long Island Sound, the park provides prime access to the North Fork’s wineries, farms, beaches and restaurants.
The parks department didn’t say how much the rentals will cost, but described the cabins as “quality, affordable accommodations.”
Wildwood will be open April 1 through Oct. 9, according to the parks department’s website. Currently, overnight campground stays range from $17 to $34. The park offers fishing, swimming, hiking, grilling, ball fields, basketball courts and a playground.
The $6 million project is funded by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s NY Parks 2020 initiative, a multi-year commitment to spend $900 million in private and public funding for state parks from 2011 to 2020. The 2016-17 state budget has earmarked $90 million for the program.
