Furious residents of Long Island’s North Fork are leaving because of influx of city-folk

The residents of the once sleepy Long Island enclave of North Fork say they’re growing tired of a new influx of post-pandemic influx of tourists that have disturbed their once peaceful village. 

The region, long known as Long Island’s Wine Country, has become a tourist hotspot with its over 60 vineyards, multiple breweries and distilleries, and private fly fishing ranches.

But following the pandemic, parts of the peninsula such as Greenport, Southold, Mattituck and Cutchogue, have drawn in a huge influx of rowdy tourists that have taken over the once quaint area with their hard partying. 

According to residents, so-called ‘cityiots’ have barged into town, loudly partying in their Airbnbs, getting wasted at local vineyards and causing heavy traffic when they extend their stays at local mansions, the New York Post reported. 

Although the idyllic location has long been a popular getaway spot, in recent years residents say it has attracted a larger, younger crowd who have overstayed their welcome. 

Claudio’s waterfront restaurant located in Greenport is a tourist hotspot during the summer 

The post-pandemic boom also affected the Hamptons, (above, partiers at The Boardy Barn in Hampton Bays) where longtime residents have previously expressed frustration with the rise in real estate, dining and transportation costs

The post-pandemic boom also affected the Hamptons, (above, partiers at The Boardy Barn in Hampton Bays) where longtime residents have previously expressed frustration with the rise in real estate, dining and transportation costs

Following the pandemic, an influx of tourists have taken over the once quaint town of Greenport (Above) Crowds pack downtown Greenport

Following the pandemic, an influx of tourists have taken over the once quaint town of Greenport (Above) Crowds pack downtown Greenport

‘Years ago (visitors) were like osprey birds; they were pretty quiet and you would just see them down by the water over the summer,’ 45-year-old Mattituck resident Ben Heins told the Post. ‘But now they’re like seagulls; they’re all over the place and they crap on everything.’ 

Resident’s say the 30-mile long peninsula has now become the new Hamptons, the popular seaside community known as a summer destination for the rich and famous located on Long Island’s South Fork.

‘It’s become the Hamptons 2.0,’ Cutchogue Civic Association member Steve Starroff told the Post. ‘It feels like an invasion now, and it wasn’t like this 10 years ago.’

What has upset residents the most-other than the overcrowding, the traffic and overall rowdiness is the lack of regard for town residents and their long-held customs. 

‘There’s a lack of respect,’ Greenport firefighter Bob Corwin told The Post. ‘(New arrivals) say they love it here, but want to change everything about the place.’

That includes pushing residents out of grocery stores on the weekends and the reluctance to pullover to allow emergency vehicles, including firetrucks, pass when out on a call, Corwin told the post. 

Residents say there is no reprieve from the tourists, who years ago used to leave after Labor Day but are now sticking around. 

What has upset residents the most-other than the overcrowding, the traffic and overall rowdiness- is the lack of regard for town residents and their customs

What has upset residents the most-other than the overcrowding, the traffic and overall rowdiness- is the lack of regard for town residents and their customs

Resident's say the peninsula has now become the new Hamptons, the popular seaside community known as a summer destination for the rich and famous (Above, Lieb Cellars in Cutchogue pictured)

Resident’s say the peninsula has now become the new Hamptons, the popular seaside community known as a summer destination for the rich and famous (Above, Lieb Cellars in Cutchogue pictured) 

‘We had something called “tumbleweed Tuesday,” which is when all the locals would go out on the town and celebrate the tourists leaving — restaurants would even have specials and deals,’ Starroff said. ‘But we haven’t had ‘tumbleweed Tuesday’ for a few years now because everybody seems to be sticking around.’ 

And even worse for some residents is the slew of new tawdy homes being built by newcomers that look out of place, local beef farm runner and owner of McCall Wines, Brewster McCall said. 

‘They look like garbage,’ he told the Post of the ‘McMansions from the Hamptons that max out their lot and put up a wall between them and the neighbors.’ 

The post-pandemic boom also affected the Hamptons, where longtime residents have previously expressed frustration with the rise in real estate, dining and transportation costs.

Last March locals complained about the wave of rich residents ‘ruining the Hamptons’

‘There’s so much money now it’s nauseating. I’m a one-percenter. But I bear no resemblance to these people,’ one woman, who bought her Amagansett home in 1991, told Vanity Fair last summer. 

‘Everyone with money is here. If I weren’t here already, I wouldn’t come now. The conspicuous consumption is just gross.’