#99 - The Felix House Brings Dickens, Gatsby and Ghosts to Life

It's difficult to visit the Felix House even just once and forget about it. And that is why we've dedicated #99 of our 100 Things To Do in Long Beach to this outstanding home. We’ve been there and had to write about it again.

Situated in the city’s historic Red Brick District at 151 W. Penn St., the Felix House is a nostalgic reminder of the beach town that was once deemed "The Riviera of The East." The house is among the first twelve that were built in Long Beach in 1908, and is one of the most notable historical homes in the area, including the Villa Clara on West Bay Drive, thanks to the meticulous renovations of owners Marty and Richard Ross and their daughter, Jennifer, who restored the home's original details and charm.  

Patch previously covered the historical events behind the Felix House, but readers must see this home up close to fully absorb and appreciate its history and beauty. It is listed on Long Island's National Register of Historic Homes, and the owners volunteer its front room as a gift shop for the Long Beach Island Landmarks Association. 

The home’s ghostly footsteps, heard in the hallways in the evenings, draw a crowd for Long Beach's “Ghost Tour” in October. There is also a Charles Dickens-themed horse and buggy ride that starts and end there that warms the hearts of patrons who toast marshmallows on the hearth in front of the house each December, and its Gatsby-themed parties in the summer leave guests doing the Charleston.

Whether you visit the Felix House for these activities, or you’re interested in its architecture, or you just want to take a peek inside its gift shop, experiencing this house in all its grandeur is something guests will go home talking about and not soon forget. 

Category: Historical

Season: Year-round

Note: Make sure you check out the original inscription on the dining room doors: “All This For House 11."  Restored by the owners, it refers to the Felix House as the 11th home built in Long Beach.