The Meriwether, an opulent estate on Long Island's North Shore and former home of Abby Rockefeller O'Neill, was recently listed for $8.1 million.
The 17-room property, built during Long Island's Golden Age, was home to the Rockefeller heiress and her husband, George O'Neill. Abby was the eldest grandchild of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller and John D. Rockefeller Jr, the business magnate who is thought to be the wealthiest American of all time.
See: World's best homes – tour the globe’s most beautiful houses
The estate belonged to the heiress for almost 70 years, after the O'Neill family purchased the home in 1950. She lived here, alongside the New York shore, until her death in 2017.
This Georgian brick manor built a reputation as a home that was beaming with fun and generosity, as they welcomed many grandchildren and guests from their six children and numerous business and civic organization connections. Listing agent Douglas Elliman (opens in new tab) has described the property as an 'exceptional estate' which offers the 'quintessence of gracious Gold Coast living.'
The 31.5-acre estate, at 200 Sunset Road, is carved from the verdant hills of Oyster Bay Cove, a coastal neighborhood, which, despite its vast organic beauty, is less than an hour from the urban hustle of Midtown Manhattan. The home is nestled amid a maze of beaches, bars, and harbors and is accessed through an impressive circular courtyard that sets the tone for the rest of this stately property.
Beyond Meriwether's eleven-bedrooms and seven-and-a-half-bathrooms is a 'ballroom sized' living room and a 'banquet-sized dining room that was the beating heart of entertainment amid this sociable home. The property showcases its heritage through its charming Georgian features, from its hardwood floors, high ceilings, oversized windows, and French doors, which all exhibit the home's enduring grandeur.
See: Living room ideas – clever ways to decorate living spaces
There is also a sweeping bridal staircase and an elegant study - complete with a luxurious WFH backdrop that is certain to impress during video calls.
See: Bedroom ideas – designs and inspiration for beautiful bedrooms
Meriwether's Japanese maple-kissed exterior is equally impressive, with its statement inground Gunite pool, rocky waterfall, and bluestone patio, which is blessed in East Coastal sunshine. As a social hive, it is unsurprising the estate is complete with extensive accommodation for guests and additional staff quarters, which boasts a butler's pantry and a cook's kitchen.
See: Obama house: tour Barack and Michelle's new Martha's Vineyard home
Listing agents Regina Rogers and Jyll Kata handled the sale, and a buyer has recently signed a contract for the home. The agents described the estate as a 'rare gem sparkling in the center of an emerald necklace of fine residences called Oyster Bay Cove.'
We're now going to live vicariously through the life of the individual who will now call Meriwether home.
