Opinion: How The Montauk State Of Mind Swept The Country

On every old map of North America you can always find Montauk Point by just looking at the very end of Long Island. Famous explorer John Smith sailed past, as did the mighty British fleet in both 1776 and 1812. Herman Melville also passed by and, of course, Teddy Roosevelt rode his horses all over the hamlet.

However, in 2007 a new phenomenon brought the young to Montauk, to party, to beach, to surf, to drink, to romance and to raise hell — all with an impact on local businesses and residents.

I was living in Montauk between 2004 and 2008 due to divorce and a series of "misfortunes" relating to most of my decisions after my divorce. The folks perhaps took pity on me and accepted me for what I was, a fiftysomething guy, writing articles for the Montauk Pioneer and Dan's Papers to pay his rent and buy some food.

It was during this time that a few things happened that I believe led to the seismic shift in the type of folks who now visit Montauk. In my first few years Montauk was "the unHampton." Motorcycle guys, guys who fixed cars, along with hardworking fishermen seemed to get along famously at night spots such as Liar's Saloon. There was that label "blue collar village" that I actually said was more like a no-collar village. Whereas in East Hampton and all points west the real estate boom was creating something new — real estate millionaire locals. Old farms, homes and properties soared in value almost monthly. Designer shirts were selling well and there were lots of new trucks. Not so much in Montauk with limited appeal for what was then called the "wannabes."

But all that changed when boom, the real estate bubble burst. At that very same moment the Surf Lodge opened and yes, I was there to write about it. The new owners were also the owners of a few of the hottest nightclubs of that moment in New York City. Needless to say they invited their choice customers to come see Ziggy Marley open the Surf Lodge that Memorial Day weekend. I saw young beautiful Manhattan people by the thousands. I actually attended that opening weekend Sunday night with Montauk legend Carl Darenberg who looked at me and said, "Who are these people?" Later as I drove him back to his car he said the Surf Lodge was going to bring a whole new type of crowd to Montauk and he was so very right.

Soon in New York City at the hip nightclubs everyone was talking, saying "Montauk is happening." I wrote about it then still not knowing what was going to happen within the next 10 years.

I was living in Montauk when the new crowd that locals labeled "hipsters" were discovering the rest of Montauk — when the Surf Lodge was the place to be on summer nights. Many times I had said in articles, "Have you ever met anyone who went to Montauk for the first time and didn't vow to come back?" Then that's what happened. People who were visiting New York from Europe for few days were actually taking the train to see Montauk. Once I encountered some lost South Koreans who were wondering around Ditch Plains lost asking me, "Where is the Surf Lodge?"

Then the locals resisted, citing safety issues, parking issues, noise issues, capacity issues and the publicity of reported disputes only drew in more way out of town visitors.

I was just in Cancun, Mexico and the room service guy saw my Montauk hat and said he watches Showtime's "The Affair" and wants to someday go to Montauk.

Finally, where else east of the Shinnecock Canal is there a village/hamlet that has the affordable motel rates found in Montauk?

Slowly but surely the East Hampton town board has reined in the craziness that included, drunk or high folks walking into homes to shower, sleep, or find food. Unfortunately, the opioid/heroin situation has grown in Montauk, just as it has across the nation, perhaps due to this influx. The problem is nationwide and an escalating crisis on the national political radar.

With the Montauk Lighthouse lit again for the holidays and the many Christmas trees illuminating and lining the main streets of the Hamptons the clock is ticking as local ponder what next year's season will bring to Montauk.

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