Druid Ruins And Amphitheater on Long Island - Remnants of Rosemary’s Farm

Historic Sites

Apr 4

Rosemary’s Farm or sometimes called the Conklin Estate was a Long Island Gold Coast estate on the hills overlooking Cold Spring Harbor. The estate was owned by Ronald Conklin, who operated realty firms, and his wife who was an opera singer and had her own private outdoor amphitheater.

The Olmsted Brothers (specifically Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and James Frederick Dawson) designed the landscape and the amphitheater for the Rosemary Farm estate, while architect Wilson Eyre designed the main house and formal gardens. [1, 2, 3]

The ampitheater could seat 4,000 people for performances on a stage that was surrounded by a moat with bridges. The amphitheater and the landscape were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. There were jets of water that would shoot up acting as a curtain hiding the stage until the performers were ready. Some of the greatest performers of the time appeared here. Sarah Bernhardt, Tyrone Powers, John and Ethel Barrymore and John Phillip Sousa.

The estate was abandoned in 1924, and was purchased by the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in 1930. The main house fell victim to a fire in 1990, but there still are some original estate buildings that survive.

Records show that as of 2026, the amphitheater parcel with 20 acres was purchased by the Village of Lloyd Harbor.

Here is what caught my eye; I hope you enjoy!

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The original estate entrance off West Neck Road, just past the entrance to the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception

Some surviving estate buildings

Abandoned brick garden wall and trellis walk

The next few images are remnants of the mansion entrance at Rosemary’s Farm

Abandoned trellis walkway

The area is mostly overgrown but you can make out the amphitheater seating worked into the hills. The landscape design was Frederick Law Omsted.

Several views of the Druid ruins

This bridge is part of the elaborate ampitheater stage

The winter view of Cold Spring Harbor

The original mansion terracotta terrace wall

Sunlight through the Druid ruins

[Update]

The following images were taken in 2025, probably 6+ years after the previous ones. The property has been significantly cleaned up including the amphitheater. Some informational signage has also been added.