An 18-Acre Private Island in Connecticut Lists for $35 Million

Hay Island, a waterfront sanctuary off the coast of Darien, is also just minutes from downtown, offering residents the best of both worlds

March 13, 2025

Foyer. Photo: ChiChi Ubina

Just off the coast of Darien, Connecticut, is an 18-acre private enclave known as Hay Island. The waterfront sanctuary once belonged to industrialist William Ziegler—one of the founders of the Royal Baking Powder Company—and is the last Ziegler-owned property in the state.

Listing agent Leslie McElwreath of Sotheby’s International Realty tells Galerie that this $35 million listing presents an “unprecedented opportunity to own an exclusive residential private island just 40 miles from midtown Manhattan,” and minutes from Darien’s vibrant downtown community with shopping and restaurants.

Main residence. Photo: Modern Media LLC

She adds, “Nestled within picturesque waters, it boasts a beautifully designed house and an inviting cottage, a sparking pool and pool house, two pristine beaches complemented by a private dock all on 18 bucolic acres.”

The 8,648-square-foot property features six bedrooms, seven full baths, and one partial bath. Built in 2010, this New England Colonial also includes views of picturesque beaches, a spa, a dock, six fireplaces, a garden, high-end finishes, a spring-fed freshwater pond, and magnificent millwork. Architect Mac Patterson of Austin Patterson Disston is responsible for the sprawling abode’s design.

Living room. Photo: ChiChi Ubina

Other features, specifically on the first floor, include a front-to-back foyer that leads to a waterside veranda, a paneled library with custom bookshelves, a marble bathroom complete with water views, a sizeable chef’s kitchen, a sunlight-soaked breakfast room with a fireplace, a coffered ceiling, walls of windows in the formal dining and living rooms, and a screened-in porch with views of the Long Island Sound. Outside is a built-in barbecue and an infinity pool, among other amenities.

On the second floor is a primary suite with its own sprawling balcony, with a perfect view of scenic sunrises over the Long Island Sound. There are also two custom dressing rooms, a laundry room, and two additional en-suite bedrooms with water views.

Breakfast room. Photo: ChiChi Ubina

Kitchen. Photo: ChiChi Ubina

On the third floor is a bay-windowed office with the home’s highest vantage point and two additional en-suite bedrooms. Lastly, the property’s guest house includes a fully equipped kitchen, a powder room, a private office, and a family room with a stone fireplace and a dining area; the latter room leads to a stone terrace overlooking both the backyard and Ziegler Cove.

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