Makonikey, site of the famous old hotel which was open only for a season some forty years ago, is to be put upon the market by the present owners, Thomas F. Neelon and Roger W. Higgins. Surveyors are now at work laying out lots and streets, in order to have sites ready for building operations next spring. The old hotel will be torn down.

 

The Makonikey property covers 428 acres on the North Shore of the Island. The land is high and slopes to the shore of Vineyard Sound, with about a mile and a half of beach frontage. Part of the western area of the tract is a hundred feet or more above the water.

 

The present plan of Mr. Neelon and Mr. Higgins is to develop about a third of the tract at the eastern end, about 130 acres, into sites 100 by 150 feet. The balance of the property will be cut into larger lots of five acres or more as desired by purchasers. It is planned to have the property handled by Island real estate agents.

 

 

The Makonikey hotel was built in 1893. It was opened during that summer, but closed in August, never to open again. The following year several cottages were built, but the development was not a success and the entire property was sold at auction for $12,500. After that, it changed hands several times, for some years being the site of a brick company. The hotel was used as a summer camp during one period, before the camp was moved to West Chop where it still continues as Camp Winnecunnet.

 

Despite its natural beauties and fine outlook, present day observers believe the former development was doomed to failure by lack of good roads, inadequate finances, and failure to find a clientele in the short time the company could operate. Makonikey is one of the largest tracts on the Vineyard held intact for many years, and the largest shore frontage on the Sound side still available for development.