1958-1967 tours of the Long Island Motor Parkway #6: Petit Trianon in Lake Ronkonkoma
From 1958 to 1967, unidentified couple(s) documented tours of the Motor Parkway with over 70 photos taken from the Western Terminus in Queens to the Eastern Terminus (Lake Ronkonkoma). In the sixth of the series, these photos feature the post-fire Petit Trianon located at the Eastern Terminus in Lake Ronkonkoma from 1958-1960.
Enjoy, Howard Kroplick
When the Long Island Motor Parkway route was completed to Lake Ronkonkoma in 1911, officials decided to build a first-class dining facility and half-way stop for travelers. William K. Vanderbilt Jr. once again commissioned architect John Russell Pope to design the Parkway Inn later renamed Petit Trianon.
Sold off by the Long Island Motor Parkway in the late 1920s, the building survived until 1958, when it was destroyed by a fire. The ruins were captured in these photos dated from 1958-1960.
Comments
The last 2 photos are definitely the steps leading towards the lake.Kept looking back and forth at Ron Ridolphs photos, and the present day images that we’ve captured.
Wondering, after the Motor Parkway sold the Petit Trianon in the late 1920s what became of the place until the fire in 1958?
As a kid who grew up near the lake, I vividly remember the grand concrete staircase that went nowhere, and always wondered what grand structure must have once justified these grand steps. Thanks so much for keeping this history alive.
Howard, Just completed my book on the Petit Trianon Inn including the annex. Hope to have ii published later this year.
I believe that is a Brookhaven park now.