Muttontown Preserve

Muttontown Preserve is a 550-acre nature preserve on the North Shore of Long Island, spanning wooded trails, open fields, ponds, wetlands, and the remnants of several historic estates. Located in the Muttontown and East Norwich area of Nassau County, it is the county’s largest nature preserve and one of its most extensive places for hiking and quiet outdoor recreation.

The preserve is unusual because its natural landscape is intertwined with Long Island’s Gold Coast history. Miles of marked trails pass through former estate grounds and lead near historic structures, including Chelsea Mansion, as well as the ruins of a mansion once owned by King Zog I of Albania.

Trails, Woods and Open Land

Muttontown Preserve contains miles of marked nature trails that wind through a varied landscape of woodlands, meadows, ponds, fields, and former estate grounds. The trail system makes it possible to take anything from a relatively short walk to a longer outing through multiple sections of the preserve.

The habitat supports native wildflowers and trees along with birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Trail maps and self-guided information are available through Nassau County, helping visitors identify different areas of the preserve and plan routes through the property.

During winter, cross-country skiing is also possible on preserve trails when snow and weather conditions allow.

Chelsea Mansion

One of the preserve’s most prominent historic features is Chelsea Mansion, located near the northern portion of the property. The estate is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and survives as an important reminder of the large country estates that once defined this part of Long Island’s North Shore.

Chelsea was the home of Benjamin Moore and Alexandra Emery Moore and was designed by the architectural firm Delano & Aldrich. Alexandra Moore McKay began donating portions of the estate to Nassau County in 1964, ultimately contributing nearly 100 acres that became part of Muttontown Preserve. The mansion and surrounding estate grounds are now associated with county programs and private events.

The Ruins of King Zog’s Estate

Deeper within the preserve are the ruins associated with one of Muttontown’s most unusual historical stories. King Zog I of Albania, who fled his country following the Italian invasion of 1939, purchased the 150-acre Knollwood Estate in Muttontown in 1951.

The property included a 60-room granite mansion originally constructed for Wall Street investor Charles Hudson. King Zog never moved into the estate and sold it in 1955. After years of abandonment and vandalism, the mansion was demolished in 1959, although substantial stone remnants remain in the woods north of Muttontown Road. The ruins have become one of the preserve’s best-known landmarks and add an unexpected historical element to a hike through the property.

How the Preserve Was Created

Muttontown Preserve was assembled from portions of several former estates rather than acquired as a single property. Approximately 100 acres associated with Chelsea were donated by Alexandra Moore McKay, while Nassau County acquired roughly 400 acres from the Lansdell Christie Estate. Another approximately 20-acre parcel donated by Mrs. Paul Hammond contains evidence of the pre-Revolutionary Duryea Farm.

Together, these properties created a preserve that protects both natural habitat and remnants of several different periods of North Shore history. Today, the mix of estate landscapes, woods, fields, ponds, and historic ruins makes Muttontown different from a conventional neighborhood park.

Wildlife and Natural Habitat

The preserve provides habitat for a wide range of plants and wildlife typical of Long Island’s upland forests and open spaces. Visitors may encounter woodland birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, seasonal wildflowers, and a variety of native trees and shrubs along the trails.

Because Muttontown is managed as a nature preserve rather than a conventional recreation park, visitors should remain on established trails and avoid disturbing plants, wildlife, or sensitive habitat. Nassau County manages its preserve system specifically to protect natural areas while allowing the public to experience them.

Visiting Muttontown Preserve

Muttontown Preserve is located along Muttontown Lane in East Norwich, near Route 25A and Route 106. The preserve is best suited to hiking, nature observation, photography, and exploring the historic landscape rather than organized sports or heavily developed recreation.

Trail conditions can vary with weather and season, and visitors planning organized walks, photography sessions, or other special activities may need permits from Nassau County. Chelsea Mansion has separate procedures for events and photography.

Muttontown Preserve

Key Facts & Details

Name	Muttontown Preserve
Location	Muttontown Lane, East Norwich, NY 11732
Community	Muttontown / East Norwich area
County	Nassau County
Region	North Shore of Long Island
Size	Approximately 550 acres
Distinction	Largest nature preserve operated by Nassau County
Landscape	Woodlands, open fields, ponds, wetlands, meadows, and historic estate grounds
Trails	Miles of marked nature trails with self-guided route information available
Popular Activities	Hiking, nature walks, birdwatching, wildlife observation, photography, and seasonal cross-country skiing
Historic Site	Chelsea Mansion, a historic Gold Coast estate listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Historic Ruins	Stone remnants of the former Knollwood Estate mansion once owned by King Zog I of Albania
Other Historic Land	Parts of the preserve contain evidence associated with the pre-Revolutionary Duryea Farm
Wildlife	Birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, native trees, shrubs, and seasonal wildflowers
Winter Recreation	Cross-country skiing when snow and conditions permit
Management	Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreation & Museums
Phone	(516) 571-8500
Official Website	Nassau County Muttontown Preserve

Muttontown Preserve offers an unusually rich combination of natural scenery and Gold Coast history within a single Nassau County property. Its extensive trail system, 550 acres of protected woods and fields, Chelsea Mansion, and the secluded ruins of King Zog’s former estate make it one of the more distinctive places on Long Island for a quiet hike that also provides a glimpse into the region’s past.