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November 28, 2023

Last Piece of Montauk’s Enchanted Startop Ranch: A Legacy Awaits

David Lion Rattinerby David Lion Rattiner
in Community, Real Estate, Trending
Home Real Estate
Last Piece of Montauk’s Enchanted Startop Ranch: A Legacy Awaits

When I arrived at Startop Ranch in Montauk, I immediately felt like I was in a very special place. It’s an indescribable feeling. There is a stillness, a spirituality to the place, and as I type this, I cannot think of another time in my life in recent memory where I got a chill down my spine just by pulling up to a driveway. There is magic here—real magic. You can feel it in the brisk Fall air as horses gallop in the pasture in the distance across rolling hills that overlook water from 360 degrees. You can feel the history of it, the legend of Doctor Leon Star, who fell in love with horses, Montauk, and airplanes and then made it his life, bringing his family along for the ride.

 

I was greeted by his daughter Priscilla, who smiled as she casually walked me through the property that she was raised on, rode horses through, and had childhood adventures that people only dream about. Her appreciation for the property and her loving father is so apparent, and as a father myself, I can only dream of leaving behind such a legacy for my daughters. Ed Bruehl of Saunders & Associates, who is representing the final parcel of Startop Ranch for sale, also greeted me. If you know Ed, he is normally filled with an abundance of energy, however on top of this land, he had a calm, almost Zen-like presence as we walked the grounds.

 

“The property here tends to do that to you,” Ed laughs.

 

Priscilla, who is a Montauk legend herself, gave me a full tour of the land as Christopher Laguardia, yes, THAT Christopher Laguardia of Laguardia Design Group Architecture, strolled by us. You could tell his mind was racing with ideas as he walked in near silence with his associate. He was excited about the land, and the more I walked, the more I wanted to talk to Priscilla.

 

“Tell me the story of this place,” I asked casually.

 

“Well, my father was a doctor and he also had an interest in racehorses. He started looking for land to buy and decided to buy land in Montauk where he could find a retreat-like property and also pursue his pastime of horses, and to breed them. When he found it here, he built our lives out here. The ranch stretched all the way to the horizon,” Priscilla pointed to as far as the eye could see to the horizon where big sky meets oceanh.

 

“What was his attraction to horse racing? Would he go to the race tracks at Belmont?” I asked.

 

Priscilla smiled as I could see her mind remembering the joy her father had when it came to horses. “His mother used to like to go to the track. He thought that was so sweet. She would go to the track and get all dolled up for it, and she loved to place little bets. He got such a kick out of that, and because she loved it, he loved it. It got to the point where he thought, ‘Hey, I have land in Montauk, why don’t I do this.’ I was only 5 years old at the time.”

 

“And just like that, he would start breeding racehorses?”

 

“Yes, just like that. He bought a few stallions and a few mares and began a thoroughbred breeding farm right here where we are standing. After all of that work, we became the number one horse breeder in New York all the way up into the ’80s when he passed.”

 

We walked by the horse barn on the property and took in the view—an indescribable work of nature that you’d never imagine coming up with even if you tried. The whole thing looks like a painting by a genius. I’ve never seen such a combination of rolling hills and trees, along with cascading meadows, horses, and a view of the sea. It’s beautiful. Can you imagine being a kid here?

 

“Our lives as children were really magical because of this land in Montauk,” Priscilla smiles.

 

“Our father learned how to fly an airplane so we could get here quickly, and on a Friday, we would get on the plane and fly out to the ranch. My dad was a Renaissance man like that. He kept the plane at Kennedy Airport because he was the Doctor for the airport. It really was like out of a movie. We would ride horses through the trails here that don’t just run through the land, but are also public. The trails go all the way through to Shagwong—they go for miles and miles, and we would ride our horses all the time as a family. I’m hopeful that the final buyer of this property is going to want to do the same thing. That’s really what this property is suited for. You are immediately at the park, and it goes all around endlessly.”

 

I started to imagine living a life like that. It feels like such a fantasy, but it is very much real in Montauk.

 

“The property was like an open canvas, and when we inherited the property, I was involved in a lot of the planning so that each house could have a view and didn’t block the other. I had no land planning experience, but I did it and did 11 easements with the town. There were 21 lots in total. The whole ranch spilled all the way down to East Lake Drive, and here we are down to the last piece of property, and this piece is just very special, as you can tell.

 

“What was the most special memory you had here?” I asked.

 

Priscilla responded almost instantly. “Watching a horse baby being born. We were little kids, and it was like 4 in the morning, and we were all rushed into the barn to watch and help. It was incredible. The mom would lick, lick, lick, and just like that, her baby was born.

 

“Amazing.”

 

“It truly was.”

 

As it’s the final parcel for sale, a total of 8 acres, a little bit of bittersweetness is certainly there for Priscilla. When I asked her what she hoped the new owner would do with the property, she stopped and looked out at the horizon, and she paused in thought for a moment.

 

“My hope is that they stay with it for the rest of their lives and their children’s lives, like a legacy property, rather than just see it as something that they try to step up and out of. I want them to feel the real, real sense of love of being at home here in Montauk, that belonging feeling. That this is home.”

 

For more information about 101 & 107 Startop Drive, Montauk, please reach out to Ed Bruehl.


ED BRUEHL
Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker
[email protected]
Cell: (646) 752-1233

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The Magic of Music Under the Montauk Moon: A conversation with Joe Delia composer, singer, storyteller 

October 29 @ 06:30 PM - October 29 @ 07:30 PM
Montauk Library 871 Montauk Hwy, Montauk NY 11954
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30
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Aperitivo (Sunset Cocktails)

October 30 @ 05:00 PM - October 30 @ 08:00 PM
The Baker House 1650
30
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30
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30
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A Season in Sound: A Look at the Year to Come

October 30 @ 06:00 PM - October 30 @ 07:00 PM
Hoie Hall at St. Luke's Episcopal Church
30
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30
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30
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Wine & Cheese Class at Wölffer

October 30 @ 06:00 PM - October 30 @ 07:30 PM
Wölffer Estate Vineyard 139 Sagg Road Sagaponack, NY 11962
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LTV Presents a Night of Spooky Fun: Vampire Masquerade

October 30 @ 07:00 PM - October 30 @ 09:00 PM
75 Industrial Road, Wainscott, NY, 11975
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East Hampton Food Pantry: Serving & Making a Difference on the East End

East Hampton Food Pantry: Serving & Making a Difference on the East End

  • Dust off your favorite witch’s hat and opt for a paddleboard instead of a broom for Paddle Diva & Wych’s Bloom’s inaugural Witches Paddle on Wednesday, October 29, from 4–6 p.m. at Paddle Diva (10 Boat Yard Rd., East Hampton, NY). A portion of the proceeds will go to the Surfrider Foundation’s Eastern Long Island Chapter and its efforts to protect the world’s oceans, waves, and beaches through dedicated activism. ⁠
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We’ve all seen Witches Paddles grace our social media feeds, and now you can partake in the spooky fun! This tradition combines Halloween vibes with the healing power of nature as you glide and take in the beautiful Three Mile Harbor views.⁠
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Gina Bradley excitedly shared, “I am thrilled to be hosting this at Paddle Diva’s permanent location inside Swan’s Marina (formerly Vanderveer’s). This kind of paddle has been on my mind for many years, as I’ve seen them in all parts of the world, and it looks so cool seeing all the witches gracefully gliding along the water. This is particularly exciting because we’ve joined forces with Wych’s Bloom, a local herbal apothecary brand, and Surfrider to raise money and awareness for ocean and clean bay initiatives that are crucial for our waters on the East End of Long Island.”⁠
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“As an herbalist, Samhain, or Halloween, offers a special occasion for me to celebrate the healers who came before us to teach the wisdom of the plants in our region. I had seen people gathering for Witches Paddles all over the country, and as a surfer, I connected instantly with these events. When I texted Gina the idea, she was immediately in. That’s what I love about the women on the East End—they’re always up for an adventure,” shared Wych’s Bloom owner and Surfrider Foundation board member Christina Winters.⁠
⁠
Join us in taking part in this one-of-a-kind event! Craft a witch’s outfit and set sail at the inaugural Witches Paddle for a great cause.⁠
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@paddlediva @wychs_bloom⁠
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#witch #witchespaddle #paddlediva #hamptons #halloween #easthampton⁠
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  • Check out the top Hamptons events this weekend!⁠
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🍎 Wölffer’s Cider Fest⁠
📅 Sat, Oct 25 | ⏰ 2–5PM⁠
📍 The Wine Stand, Sagaponack⁠
Sip cider, enjoy live music, games, and lobster rolls!⁠
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🍦 Buddhaberry’s Spooktacular Costume Party⁠
📅 Sat, Oct 25 | ⏰ 2–4PM⁠
📍 Buddhaberry, Southampton⁠
Bingo, trivia & costume prizes galore!⁠
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👻 Haunted Village⁠
📅 Sat, Oct 25 | ⏰ 11AM–4PM⁠
📍 Southampton History Museum⁠
Ghost stories, pumpkin carving & trick-or-treating!⁠
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🧙‍♀️ CMEE’s Halloween Bash⁠
📅 Fri, Oct 24 | ⏰ 4–6PM⁠
📍 CMEE, Bridgehampton⁠
Spooky crafts, games & costume contest!⁠
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🎬 The Horror Show at Sunset Theater⁠
📅 Oct 24–30⁠
📍 Westhampton Beach⁠
7 nights of scary movies 🍿⁠
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🎧 Halloween Silent Disco Dance Party⁠
📅 Sat, Oct 25 | ⏰ 7–10PM⁠
📍 Guild Hall, East Hampton⁠
3 channels, endless grooves—disco, funk & more!⁠
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🐾 Canines in Costume at LongHouse Reserve⁠
📅 Sat, Oct 25 | ⏰ 10:30AM–12:30PM⁠
📍 East Hampton⁠
Dress up your pup + enjoy treats & fun!⁠
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🎃 Bridgehampton Halloween Parade⁠
📅 Sat, Oct 25 | ⏰ 10–11AM⁠
📍 Hampton Library, Bridgehampton⁠
Trick-or-treat parade down Main Street!⁠
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🎸 The Cherry Bombs at The Stephen Talkhouse⁠
📅 Fri, Oct 24 | ⏰ 8PM⁠
📍 Amagansett⁠
Rock out all night! 🤘⁠
⁠
🌲 Enchanted Forest Trail⁠
📅 Oct 25–26 | ⏰ 12–1:30PM⁠
📍 Quogue Wildlife Refuge⁠
Costume walk + crafts + games!⁠
⁠
🥁 Annual Ragamuffin Parade⁠
📅 Sun, Oct 26 | ⏰ 1PM⁠
📍 Sag Harbor⁠
Parade fun for all ages + pets!⁠
⁠
🐶 Little Lucy’s Annual Pet Parade⁠
📅 Sat, Oct 25 | ⏰ 1–4PM⁠
📍 Agawam Park, Southampton⁠
Prizes, live music & celebrity judges!⁠
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🕸️ Solé East’s Halloween Party⁠
📅 Sat, Oct 25 | ⏰ 8PM⁠
📍 Montauk⁠
Win a free weekend stay for best costume!⁠
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🍁 Centro’s Fall Festival⁠
📅 Sun, Oct 26 | ⏰ 12–5PM⁠
📍 Hampton Bays⁠
Pumpkin decorating, drinks & local vendors!⁠
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🔗 Click link in bio for more events at Hamptons.com⁠
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#hamptons #halloween #pumpkins #scarymovies #southampton #sagharbor #easthampton #costumes
  • East Hampton’s streets came alive with wagging tails and smiling faces for ARF’s 32nd Annual Stroll to the Sea Dog Walk. Families, friends, and their dogs gathered at the historic Mulford Farm, where the morning kicked off with vendors, photo ops, custom merchandise, contests, and prizes.

@arfhamptons 

#arf #hamptons #community #mainbeach #adoptdontshop❤️
  • Last Saturday, Wölffer held its annual harvest party at its scenic vineyard in Sagaponack. The annual fest brought together friends, families, and wine lovers to toast the season and harvest behind every bottle of Wölffer wine.⁠
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📸: Cameron Burton⁠
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Check out the full gallery at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
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#wolffer #hamptons #wolfferwine #harvestparty
  • From Hollywood red carpets to Milan exhibits and Hamptons fashion shoots, Filbert Kung has photographed the world—but it’s his quiet, unguarded, and attentive nature that reveals the artist behind the lens.⁠ @filbert_kung 
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I met Filbert Diego Kung at a Grey/Ven fashion event in Amagansett last summer. He’s one of those rare photographers who instantly puts you at ease—calm, composed, and naturally good at making anyone feel like they belong in front of his lens. Had I known then just how in-demand Filbert is in the fashion and photography world, I probably wouldn’t have asked him to snap a few shots of me goofing off on the red carpet. But maybe that makes me a model? Either way, it was my first glimpse of how effortlessly he captures people as they are. In my case, goofy-but-make-it-chic.⁠
⁠
Since then, I’ve seen him popping up around the Hamptons, often between flights to LA, Miami, or wherever the next big editorial or campaign takes him. Originally from the Philippines, Filbert has spent over fifteen years building a career that bridges Hollywood red carpets, high-fashion editorials, and fine art portraiture. ⁠
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Read the interview at Hamptons.com (Link in Bio)⁠
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⁠#photographer #photography #hamptons
  • From fall festivals to concerts, a lot is happening in the Hamptons this weekend! ⁠
⁠
Check out the top Hamptons events this weekend!⁠
⁠
🎃 Fall Festival at Good Ground Park⁠
📍 Hampton Bays | 🗓️ Fri, Oct 17 | 🕓 4–6PM⁠
Bring your pre-carved pumpkin & compete for prizes! Games, food truck, costume parade & more!⁠
👉 Link in bio⁠
⁠
🍷 Wölffer’s Candlelight Fridays⁠
📍 Sagaponack | 🗓️ Fri, Oct 17 | 🕓 4–7PM⁠
Live music, seasonal pairings & cozy vibes 🍁⁠
👉 Link in bio⁠
⁠
🖼️ Like No One: Michael McDowell Exhibition⁠
📍 East Hampton | 🗓️ Oct 17–19⁠
🎉 Opening reception: Sat, Oct 18 | 4–8PM⁠
Fine art lovers, don’t miss this!⁠
👉 Link in bio⁠
⁠
📚 BookHampton: Caroline Sutton in Conversation⁠
📍 East Hampton | 🗓️ Sat, Oct 18 | 🕕 6PM⁠
Nature meets literature in this insightful author talk.⁠
👉 Link in bio⁠
⁠
👟 Shelter Island Fall 5K Run/Walk⁠
📍 Shelter Island | 🗓️ Sat, Oct 18 | 🕚 11AM–2PM⁠
Run/walk for a cause—supporting Breast Cancer Awareness 💗⁠
👉 Link in bio⁠
⁠
🏛️ 32nd Annual Landmarks Luncheon⁠
📍 Maidstone Club | 🗓️ Sat, Oct 18 | 🕦 11:30AM–2:30PM⁠
Hosted by LVIS, spotlighting the history of East Hampton’s Freetown.⁠
👉 Link in bio⁠
⁠
🍂 Amber Waves’ Oktoberfeast⁠
📍 Amagansett | 🗓️ Sat, Oct 18 | 🕑 2–5PM⁠
Seasonal dishes, live music, dancing & games 🎶⁠
👉 Link in bio⁠
⁠
🎻 BCM Autumn: Brooklyn Rider⁠
📍 Bridgehampton | 🗓️ Sat, Oct 18 | 🕔 5–6:30PM⁠
A powerful string quartet performance you won’t want to miss.⁠
👉 Link in bio⁠
⁠
🍷 Cab Franc Forward Winemaker’s Dinner⁠
📍 Shelter Island | 🗓️ Sun, Oct 19 | 🕔 5PM⁠
Multi-course dinner + Cab Franc pairings = 🍽️🍇 perfection⁠
👉 Link in bio⁠
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✨ So much happening this weekend — which event are you heading to first?⁠
⁠
#hamptons #fall #fallfestival #shelterisland #5k #wine #winedinner #amberwaves #wolffer
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