-scaled.jpg)
If you mention Amityville New York to anyone outside of Long Island, their mind immediately goes to bleeding walls, swarms of flies, and a house with "eyes" for windows. It’s the ultimate spooky brand. But honestly? If you actually drive down Ocean Avenue today, you won’t find a portal to hell. You’ll mostly find people worrying about their property taxes or where to get the best eggplant parm.
Amityville is a real place. A quiet, salt-aired village of about 9,500 people. It has a high school, a library, and a very stressed-out village board that has spent decades trying to convince the world that they aren't just a movie set.
The Name is Actually About a Boat
Most people assume the name "Amityville" has some deep, colonial gravitas. It doesn't. Back in the mid-1800s, the area was basically just a collection of farms known as West Neck South. Around 1846, the locals had a meeting to pick a better name for their new post office. Things got heated. People were arguing, as Long Islanders tend to do.
Legend has it that a guy named Samuel Ireland, a local mill owner who was probably tired of the yelling, suggested naming the town after his boat, the Amity. "Amity" means friendly. He basically told everyone to chill out and be nice. The name stuck. It’s a bit ironic considering the town became globally famous for a story about the exact opposite of friendliness.
What Most People Get Wrong About the "Horror"
We have to talk about 112 Ocean Avenue because that's why you're reading this. But let’s separate the tragedy from the tabloid stuff.
In 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr. did something horrific. He murdered six members of his family while they slept. That is the factual, grim reality. The "haunting" part came later when George and Kathy Lutz moved in. They stayed for 28 days and fled, claiming the house was possessed.
🔗 Read more: Entry Into Dominican Republic: What Most People Get Wrong
Here is the thing: Most of the "paranormal" details were later admitted to be "concocted over many bottles of wine" by the Lutzes and DeFeo's lawyer, William Weber. They were looking for a way to make some money and maybe get DeFeo a new trial based on "insanity" or "demonic possession." It worked for the book sales, but it didn't work for the court.
Since then, the house has been owned by several families. None of them have reported ghosts. In fact, the only "horrors" they’ve dealt with are tourists trespassing on their lawn to take selfies. One owner even changed the house number and the shape of those iconic eye-shaped windows just to get some peace.
It Was Actually a Fancy Resort Town
Long before Hollywood got a hold of it, Amityville New York was the place to be if you were rich and famous in the early 20th century. Think of it as the "pre-Hamptons."
Because of the South Side Railroad (which arrived in 1867), wealthy Manhattanites could escape the city heat and get to the Great South Bay in under two hours. The village was packed with massive waterfront hotels like the New Point Hotel and the Hathaway Inn.
Famous people were everywhere:
💡 You might also like: Novotel Perth Adelaide Terrace: What Most People Get Wrong
- Will Rogers had a home here.
- Annie Oakley spent time here as a guest of vaudevillian Fred Stone.
- Al Capone reportedly had a house in the community (though every town on the South Shore claims a Capone house, Amityville’s claim is pretty solid).
It was a "nautical village" through and through. People came for the duck hunting, the sailing, and the salt hay. Today, that maritime vibe is still the soul of the place. If you walk down by the water, you’ll see the Amityville Yacht Club and plenty of guys in Sperry's talking about their outboard motors.
Life in Amityville Today: The 2026 Reality
If you're looking at Amityville from a lifestyle perspective, it’s a bit of a hidden gem that’s currently going through a glow-up. The village recently snagged a $10 million Downtown Revitalization grant. They are trying to make the area around the LIRR station more walkable and "hip" for commuters who don’t want to pay Brooklyn prices but still want a decent espresso.
The Real Estate Vibe
Housing prices here have stayed surprisingly resilient. The median home value is hovering around $540,000 to $600,000 depending on how close you are to the water.
You’ve got a weird mix of architecture. There are these stunning, massive Victorian "Captains' houses" south of Merrick Road, and then more modest, post-WWII suburban builds in North Amityville. It’s not a cookie-cutter town. Every street feels a little different.
Where People Actually Hang Out
Forget the ghost tours; they aren't even legal (the village really hates them). If you want to see the real Amityville, go to:
📖 Related: Magnolia Fort Worth Texas: Why This Street Still Defines the Near Southside
- The Triangle Building: This is the landmark in the center of town. It’s where the village offices are. It looks like a miniature Flatiron Building.
- Vittorio’s: If you want to feel like a local, you eat here. It’s an Italian-American spot that’s been a staple for ages.
- Amityville Music Hall: Surprisingly, this little village has a killer indie music scene. It’s a tiny venue, but it draws some legit touring bands.
- Amityville Beach: It’s small. It’s bay water, not ocean water (so no big waves), but for residents, it’s the place for Friday night concerts in the summer.
The "Two Amityvilles" Problem
It’s important to be honest: Amityville is a tale of two halves. There is the Incorporated Village (the "South" part) and North Amityville (the unincorporated part).
The South is mostly white, wealthier, and has its own police force. The North is more diverse and has historically struggled with less investment. However, even that is changing. Communities like Ronek Park in North Amityville have a huge history of being one of the first non-discriminatory housing developments on Long Island back in the 1950s. While most of the "horror house" tourists never go north of Sunrise Highway, they're missing out on the actual history of the people who built the town.
Why Should You Care About Amityville in 2026?
Basically, it’s a case study in how a town survives a stigma.
For fifty years, this place has been a punchline or a scary story. But the people who live here? They’re fiercely protective of it. They don't call it "The Home of the Horror." They call it "The Friendly Bay Village."
If you visit, you’ll realize the scariest thing about Amityville is trying to find a parking spot on Broadway during the Friday morning rush. It’s a town of boaters, commuters, and families who just want you to stop looking at that one house on Ocean Ave and go buy a sandwich at the local deli instead.
Actionable Insights for Visitors or New Residents
- Don't go to 112 Ocean Avenue. Seriously. The owners will call the cops, and the neighbors will glare at you. There is nothing to see. The house doesn't even look like the one in the movie.
- Visit the Lauder Museum. It’s run by the Amityville Historical Society. If you want the real story of the indigenous Montaukett people and the original settlers, this is the spot.
- Check the LIRR schedule. If you’re commuting, it’s about a 50-60 minute ride to Penn Station or Grand Central Madison. It’s one of the better commutes on the South Shore.
- Eat local. Skip the chains on Sunrise Highway. Go to the mom-and-pop shops on Merrick Road or Broadway. That’s where the "Amity" actually is.
To get a true feel for the village, skip the October "haunted" hype and visit in July. Rent a kayak, paddle out into the Great South Bay, and look back at the shoreline. You'll see why people have been fighting to live here since the 1600s—and it has nothing to do with ghosts.
To explore more about the South Shore of Long Island, you might want to look into the history of the neighboring Town of Babylon or check the latest property tax assessments for Suffolk County to see how the market is shifting.