Walk along Hylan Boulevard far enough and the houses just... stop. Suddenly, you’re staring at 200 acres of wide-open coastal bliss that feels more like the coast of Maine than a borough of New York City. That's Mount Loretto.
Most people know it for the "Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne" with its iconic stone facade, but honestly, Mount Loretto Staten Island NY is a weird, beautiful hybrid of a Catholic social service hub and a rugged state-protected wilderness. It’s got layers.
The Mission That Built a Landmark
Before it was a place for hikers and birdwatchers, Mount Loretto was a massive orphanage. Founded by Father John Christopher Drumgoole in the late 1800s, it was actually called the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin. At its peak, this place was its own self-sustaining city. We’re talking about a farm, a printing press, a power plant, and housing for thousands of kids who had nowhere else to go.
Father Drumgoole is still a local legend. You’ll see his statue there, and he’s buried on the grounds. The scale of the original mission was staggering. It wasn’t just a building; it was a sprawling campus designed to turn orphaned boys and girls into skilled workers. While most of the original Victorian-era dormitories are gone now—replaced by smaller, modern residential programs or just reclaimed by nature—the DNA of the Mission is still very much alive. Catholic Charities of Staten Island still operates out of here, running food pantries, senior centers, and programs for people with developmental disabilities.
It’s a rare thing in New York. You have this active, bustling social service center sitting right on top of a prehistoric-looking coastline.
Where the Grass Meets the Ocean
Across the street from the main campus lies the Mount Loretto Unique Area. That’s the official name given to it by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). Why "Unique"? Because it contains some of the highest bluffs on the Atlantic coast.
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You walk through these tall, swaying grasslands where the wind sounds like a constant whisper. Then, the ground just drops off.
The bluffs are made of glacial till—basically a mess of rocks, sand, and clay left behind by a melting glacier thousands of years ago. From the top, you can see all the way to Sandy Hook and the Jersey Shore. It’s raw. It’s windy. It’s beautiful in a way that makes you forget you’re in a city of 8 million people.
- The Red Trail is the one everyone hits. It’s easy. It’s flat. It leads you right to the water.
- The shoreline itself is rocky. Don’t expect white sand. Expect driftwood, smooth stones, and maybe a stray horseshoe crab shell.
- Birders lose their minds here. Bald eagles? Check. Ospreys? Definitely. I’ve seen people with cameras that look like small telescopes just sitting silently in the brush for hours.
That Church You Always See in Photos
Let’s talk about the "Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne." It’s the centerpiece of Mount Loretto Staten Island NY. If you’ve seen a wedding photo or a drone shot of the South Shore, you’ve seen this building.
The original church burned down in a massive fire in 1973. It was a tragedy that locals still talk about. The current structure was built using the facade of the original, which is why it looks so ancient and storied. It has this incredible presence. When the sun hits the stone at 4:00 PM, the whole place glows.
It’s not just a museum piece, though. People still go to Mass there. They hold a massive Christmas festival on the lawn with a tree lighting that draws thousands. They do an Italian feast in the summer. It’s the community's backyard.
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The Mystery of the Princes Bay Lighthouse
Hidden in plain sight on a hill overlooking the water is the Mount Loretto Lighthouse (officially the Princes Bay Lighthouse). It sits on the highest point of the property.
Built in the mid-1800s, the lighthouse is actually a private residence now for some very lucky park rangers/caretakers. You can’t go inside the tower, but you can walk right up to the fence. It’s one of the oldest lighthouses in the region. There’s something spooky and romantic about it, especially when the fog rolls in off the Raritan Bay.
Nature is Winning (And That’s Good)
For a long time, the waterfront side of Mount Loretto was at risk of being developed into condos. Can you imagine? Huge blocks of luxury apartments blocking the view of the ocean.
Thankfully, the state stepped in.
Because the DEC manages the "Unique Area," the ecosystem is actually bouncing back. They do controlled burns to keep the grasslands healthy. They’ve installed "Oyster-tecture"—artificial reefs made of concrete and shells just offshore—to break the waves and stop the bluffs from eroding into the sea.
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If you go there today, you'll see a lot of "wild" Staten Island. Not the manicured parks of the North Shore, but the brambly, overgrown, salt-sprayed reality of the coast.
Practical Insights for Visiting Mount Loretto
If you’re actually planning to head down to Mount Loretto Staten Island NY, don’t just wing it. It’s a big footprint and you can easily end up walking in circles on the wrong side of the road.
- Parking is easy but weird. There’s a small gravel lot on the ocean side of Hylan Blvd. If that’s full, people usually park in the main Mission parking lot across the street, near the church.
- Tick check. Seriously. The tall grass is a tick paradise. If you’re hiking the trails, wear long pants or at least douse yourself in spray.
- The Beach is a trek. It’s not a "beach day" spot where you bring an umbrella and a cooler. It’s a "hiking beach." Wear sturdy shoes because those rocks will kill your ankles if you're in flip-flops.
- Sunset is the move. There is no better place on Staten Island to watch the sun go down. The sky turns purple over the water and the silhouette of the lighthouse is basically a postcard.
The real magic of Mount Loretto is that it’s a living bridge. It bridges the borough's religious history with its environmental future. It’s a place where you can see a priest, a jogger, a fisherman, and a hawk all in the same 5-minute span.
How to get the most out of your visit:
- Start at the Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne to appreciate the architecture and the scale of the old mission grounds.
- Cross Hylan Blvd to the Unique Area and take the main path toward the water.
- Follow the shoreline toward the Lighthouse to see the highest point of the bluffs.
- Check the Catholic Charities of Staten Island website before you go; they often have drive-in movies or seasonal markets on the great lawn that are worth sticking around for.
- Bring binoculars. Even if you aren't a "bird person," seeing a bald eagle dive into the bay is objectively cool.
Mount Loretto isn't a manicured tourist trap. It’s a rugged, functional piece of Staten Island history that just happens to have the best views in the city. Respect the grounds, stay on the trails, and take your trash with you. It’s one of the few places left that feels truly open.