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Business & Tech

DayCations from Sachem: Davis Park Ferry

Get a one day vacation on the beaches of Davis Park, and a boat ride too.

Davis Park is a thriving beachfront community on Fire Island, due south of Patchogue.  Their harbor, beautiful ocean beaches, stores, restaurants and bar makes this a uniquely Long Island destination.  Besides crossing Great South Bay in your own boat, the only other way is aboard a Davis Park Ferry Company boat.  The Sherman family has been keeping the 280 families of the community well stocked and happy since 1947.  They also have been bringing thousands of families each summer over to the wide, clean beaches that make this small town so special. 

Stefanie Sherman is a co-owner of the company her parents founded over 60 years ago.  Fred and Kiki Sherman began with two small wooden boats and now the fleet numbers seven, six ferries and a freight boat.  They run a full year schedule, heading over to Davis and also Watch Hill, a smaller community operated by the National Park Service's Fire Island National Seashore. 

"We run in all kinds of weather," said Stephanie.  "I can remember only once or twice we cancelled." She has been with ferry service her entire life, working both in the office and behind the wheel.  She is a certified ferry captain, licensed like all of their staff to operate the boats, from the small one that carries 49 to the largest that holds 298, or the two that can handle 250.

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Like clockwork, the different boats leave the Patchogue terminal, beginning daily at 7:30am.  They have schedules posted on their website, with expanded service during the season and on weekends.  When summer comes, Davis Park beaches fill as quickly as the ferries, but reservations are never needed.  "If the line is getting too long to fit on the boat, we'll just pull another boat up."

The Town of Brookhaven operates a marina at Davis Park, as does the National Park Service at Watch Hill.  These destinations are very popular with South Shore boaters, some who stay for weeks at a time at the clean, well maintained docks.  Both small towns offer bathroom facilities and showers, as well as small general stores and restaurants. 

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Besides having such a beautiful beach so close by, the ferry ride across Patchogue Bay is exciting in its own way.  The 20 minutes fly b.  The ferries offer interior seats or more scenic views on the open air second deck.  But hold on to your hats, for the ferries speed across the 8 miles.

"Fuel prices are just outrageous," said Stephanie, "but we have found ways to cut back consumption.  When possible we use our smaller boats.  We run slower on a "Deadhead" run (their slang for a run with no passengers aboard.). Last year we cut consumption by 20,000 gallons."

Davis Park is sporting a new look this season, with renovated rest room facilities, a barbecue area for the visiting public and the reopening of The Casino, their restaurant and bar that dates back to the 1940s.  A few years ago the ocean washed the entire structure away, but it was rebuilt exactly.  There was no one ounce of atmosphere washed out to sea.

With the beginning of the summer season on Long Island, make it a point to visit Davis Park at least once.  It is very easy there to fall in love with our beautiful beaches, the quiet ocean-side town and the three things that make Long Island special; the sun, sand and surf.

Davis Park Ferry

80 Brightwood Street
Patchogue, NY 11772
(631) 475-1665

Distance from the heart of Sachem: 8 miles

This is the second in a series of articles detailing day trips residents of Sachem can take on Long Island. Click here, to check out a story about Mitchell Park and Marina.

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