By The Agency Hamptons
The Hamptons is filled with celebrated addresses, but the community of Springs has never seemed overly interested in calling attention to itself. A collection of winding residential roads, modest cottages, converted farmhouses, contemporary retreats, tidal wetlands, and stretches of shoreline overlooking Accabonac Harbor, Three Mile Harbor, and Gardiners Bay, the area boasts an understated character and noticeably more relaxed aesthetic that belies a fierce, world-renowned artistic legacy.
Springs also boasts an enviable location: set along the bayside of East Hampton, it's close enough to the Village for dining, shopping, and cultural events, yet removed enough to retain a strong identity of its own.
And if that all sounds brilliant on paper, this tucked-away enclave shines far brighter when experienced firsthand.
Key Takeaways
- Springs sits on the northern, bay-facing side of East Hampton, surrounded by harbors, marshland, creeks, and quiet beaches.
- Its artistic identity was shaped by Jackson Pollock, Lee Krasner, Willem de Kooning, James Brooks, and other influential East End artists.
- The neighborhood's Bonacker heritage connects it to generations of local farmers, fishermen, clammers, and baymen.
- Homes generally offer a more approachable entry into East Hampton than properties in the village or south-of-the-highway estate sections.
- Springs remains highly residential, with community institutions and outdoor recreation taking precedence over a large commercial scene.
A Bayside Lifestyle
Springs occupies a distinctive part of East Hampton. Instead of the rolling dunes and broad Atlantic beaches associated with areas south of Montauk Highway, the landscape here is shaped by protected harbors, tidal creeks, wetlands, wooded roads, and calm bay shoreline. The result is an intimate relationship with the water.
- Accabonac Harbor: This ecologically important harbor gives eastern Springs much of its visual identity, with marshes, narrow waterways, bird habitat, and long views toward Gardiners Bay.
- Maidstone Park: Located off Flaggy Hole Road along Three Mile Harbor, the park includes a bay beach, pavilion, picnic facilities, playground, ball fields, and walking areas.
- Gerard Drive: This slender waterfront road curves between Accabonac Harbor and Gardiners Bay, offering one of the neighborhood's most memorable drives and access to a quieter coastal landscape.
Daily life tends to feel informal. Residents kayak, paddleboard, sail, clam, garden, walk dogs, and gather at neighborhood parks without the sense that every outing needs to become an occasion. Boating and paddling are especially natural fits here because the protected waters are generally calmer and less trafficked than the busier ocean corridors.
An Artistic Legacy That Still Feels Alive
Springs is frequently called an artists' neighborhood, but its creative identity is more than a historical talking point. During the middle of the 20th century, the area attracted artists who wanted affordable space, solitude, natural light, and proximity to New York City. That combination helped make this East Hampton outpost an important center of the Abstract Expressionist movement.
- Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner moved to Springs in 1945. Their former home and studio at the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center is now a National Historic Landmark where visitors can see the studio floor that preserves Pollock's painting process.
- Arts Center at Duck Creek: Based at an 18th-century farmstead on Squaw Road, Duck Creek presents exhibitions, performances, family programming, and community events.
- Ashawagh Hall: Positioned where Springs Fireplace Road meets Old Stone Highway, this historic community hall remains a gathering place for art exhibitions, fairs, meetings, and neighborhood traditions.
In addition, the Leiber Collection combines the work of painter Gerson Leiber and fashion designer Judith Leiber within a sculpture garden. Folly Tree Arboretum explores the relationship between trees, art, science, and environmental storytelling. The creative thread continues through contemporary artists, architects, collectors, and designers who maintain homes or studios in the area, ensuring the culture remains a year-round connection.
Bonacker Heritage and a Genuine Year-Round Community
Springs also has a cultural identity that predates its association with modern art. The term "Bonacker," derived from Accabonac, traditionally refers to longtime East Hampton families whose livelihoods were connected to farming, fishing, clamming, oystering, and the surrounding bays. That working heritage still influences the neighborhood.
- Clams, oysters, bay scallops, and simple seafood dishes remain closely associated with Bonac food culture.
- Ashawagh Hall, neighborhood parks, local markets, and seasonal fairs help sustain a strong sense of local connection.
- Springs has useful neighborhood businesses, including eateries Si Si for Mediterranean, Springs Tavern for comfort food, Rita Cantina for modern Mexican cuisine, and the S & S Corner Shop, but it does not have a large restaurant or retail district.
Residents typically make the short drive into East Hampton Village for a wider selection of restaurants, galleries, boutiques, and services. That arrangement suits many Springs homeowners. They can enjoy village amenities without living at the center of the summer rush.
Real Estate in Springs: Character, Variety, and Relative Value
Homes in Springs are noticeably more varied than the grand estates associated with the more notable East Hampton hamlets. Buyers will find postwar cottages, ranch homes, renovated farmhouses, mid-century properties, wooded contemporary residences, new construction, and larger waterfront homes along the harbors. Springs is often viewed as one of the more attainable ways to own within East Hampton.
- Smaller cottages and homes requiring modernization can provide a lower starting point than comparable properties closer to East Hampton Village or the ocean.
- Homes along Accabonac Harbor, Three Mile Harbor, Hog Creek, and Gardiners Bay occupy a separate tier based on frontage, views, elevation, dock potential, and permitting.
- Wetlands, septic capacity, lot coverage, clearing limits, and natural-resources regulations can affect expansion plans, particularly near the water.
Springs should not be treated as a single, uniform market. A wooded inland cottage near Springs Fireplace Road offers a very different experience from a waterfront home on Gerard Drive or a property overlooking Three Mile Harbor. Appreciating those micro-locations is essential when evaluating value.
FAQs
Is Springs part of East Hampton?
Yes. Springs is a hamlet within the Town of East Hampton, located north of East Hampton Village on the bay side of the South Fork. It shares the East Hampton mailing address in many locations but maintains a distinct neighborhood identity.
Does Springs have beaches?
The community has bay beaches and waterfront access rather than the broad Atlantic beaches found south of the highway. Maidstone Park provides a lifeguarded bay beach when staffing is available, while Gerard Drive and other waterfront areas offer views and access subject to town rules and parking requirements.
Is Springs a good place for year-round living?
Springs has a substantial year-round community and tends to feel more residential outside summer than many resort-oriented Hamptons enclaves. Buyers should still evaluate commuting needs, school considerations, septic systems, internet service, and the distance from individual properties to East Hampton Village.
Discover More of The Hamptons High-End Coastal Lifestyle
Springs offers a uniquely bucolic side of East Hampton that many East End visitors overlook (or may not even realize exists). Its value lies not in grand estates or a concentrated social scene, but in a textured lifestyle that is far more personal and intimate than anywhere else in the Hamptons.
For buyers drawn to this part of the East End, local knowledge matters. Springs vary considerably from road to road and waterfront to woodland. A trusted Hamptons real estate advisor can help identify the locations, property types, and long-term considerations that best support the way you hope to live.
If you're interested in learning even more about Springs and the hamlet's unique place within the East Hampton real estate market, contact The Agency Hamptons today and allow our extensive expertise and commitment to our clients to ensure yours is a fulfilling real estate journey.
