A gem on the shores of the Hudson River, Kingsland Point Park in Sleepy Hollow is more than your average park.
It has ballfields, a boat launch, grills and pavilions, and a playground with a strange set of teeth for climbing. Take a walk along the shore to admire what sits across from you: the northern most stretch of the Palisades, Hook Mountain.
Towards the end of the 18 acre park spy what really makes this place special, the Sleepy Hollow Lighthouse.
Built in 1883, throughout the years it has had various names referred to as the Tarrytown Lighthouse and Kingsland Point Lighthouse.
Developed in the late nineteenth century it is the only caisson style lighthouse on the river, which means its superstructure rests on metal to withstand a harsh winter. It was designed as a family station, the keeper and his family would live inside the narrow 100 foot structure. Twelve families have occupied the lighthouse over the 78 years it was in operation, until it was decommissioned in 1961 when the lights of the Tappan Zee Bridge rendered it obsolete.
Just beside the lighthouse is a vacant lot, which was once home to a General Motors automobile plant. As GM was enlarging their factory, it changed the course of the Pocantico River. The lighthouse used to be half a mile from shore, but now is just a few feet away and in 1975 a pedestrian bridge was installed connecting it to the land. There are often tours of the lighthouse by the Sleepy Hollow village historian on Sundays from April-August between 1-3PM.
Good to know:
+Parking in Kingsland Point Park is $5 with County park pass; $10 without pass.
+Free parking on weekends in the train station lot, just a short walk away.