From the edge of the private peninsula, the views encompass scenic blue waters, all manner of recreational boats and in the distance, the north shore of Long Island. Yachters sail out into the Sound from the slips at the breakwater-protected marina; sunbathers bask in the sun on 300 feet of private sandy beach or take a break in the shade of one of the cabanas. One might wander the 12.8-acre grounds with its lush gardens and spacious meadows, take in a tennis match on one of the nine Har-Tru clay-surface tennis courts, and then cool off with a dip in the swimming or wading pool. At the end of the day is a fine dining experience either indoors or out, with those panoramic water views as the ever-present backdrop.
Such is the life enjoyed at the Mamaroneck Beach and Yacht Club, a waterside Hamptons-style resort that has the rare distinction of being located a mere 25 minutes outside of New York City. Rarer still is the opportunity to own it.
“This property has been an amazing treasure for our family,” says Lisa Rosenshein, who serves as President of the club and shares ownership with her two sisters. “We often thought of it as our extended backyard—a gathering place for all of us to be together. We celebrated every occasion here, from Thanksgiving and family holidays to milestone celebrations.” One of the sisters recently became engaged to be married and will have her wedding on the club’s grounds, following in the footsteps of her two siblings.
The Rosensheins are not the only ones to view the club as an important retreat for family gatherings. Numerous families return regularly every summer and have for years, many going as far back as three generations. “Like us, they are drawn to the beauty and serenity of the grounds,” says Michele Rosenshein, who admits she will miss the property with all of its family traditions.
The club has been in the family since 1979, when Bernard Rosenshein, father to the three sisters, purchased it. What followed was what his daughter Michele calls “a labor of love, and the ultimate expression of his own identity.” Her father’s accomplishments as a developer were substantial—among other notable achievements, he was responsible for one of the Bronx’s first major centers to bring a supermarket with affordable prices and fresh produce to people in the local community—yet he was a sailor at heart, and running the club became one of the parts of his life he held most dear. This shows in the improvements he made to the property including the breakwater, additional cabanas and more boat slips for the marina, which now has 57 docking slips capable of accommodating yachts up to 90 feet.
Under his stewardship and now that of his daughters, the club has thrived as a resort destination with its races and regattas, its children’s day camp with activities ranging from swimming and field sports to kayaking and paddle 
boarding, and its tennis tournaments and leagues. Although the property is not landmarked, there is plenty of historic appeal to enjoy on top of the resort amenities. Its centerpiece is an 18,000 square-foot mansion with a 6,000 square-foot waterfront ballroom, designed in 1885 by Stanford White of McKim, Mead and White—the legendary architectural firm responsible for such iconic works as the Boston Public Library, the East and West Wings of the White House and more. Several additional buildings complement the property including the beach cabanas, boat house, and original gatehouse and turreted carriage house, dating back to the late 1800s when this waterfront estate was home to New York financier Charles W. Osborn.
The Rosensheins now hope to pass all of this on to a buyer who will cherish it as they always did. “There is so much you can do with this property. It’s a beach lover’s paradise in a setting like no other, and a one-of-a-kind opportunity to own your own club right outside of New York City,” says Arlene Gibbs, the listing agent. For nearly four decades it was the Rosensheins’ dream property—now the time is right for it to be someone else’s.
For more information on this one-of-a-kind, waterside property, please visit its website here. You can also contact Larchmont agent Arlene Gibbs by phone at 914.420.3344, or by email at Arlene.Gibbs@juliabfee.com.
