Reserve
Reserve

Sustainability

OUR COMMITMENT

Set along the quiet expanse of Pipes Cove, Silver Sands is a 45-acre, fossil fuel free hotel property on the North Fork of Long Island that redefines sustainability not as sacrifice, but as sensory elevation. Originally opened in 1957, Silver Sands has been carefully rejuvenated through a philosophy of context-driven development, a design approach that listens to the land, honors local ecology, and preserves the emotional memory of place. Rather than imposing a new narrative, we asked a simple but radical question: What does this place want to be? The answer guided every choice, from preserving original footprints and mature trees to eliminating fossil fuels entirely from operations. The result is a hotel that dissolves into its surroundings, where nature is not the backdrop but the lead character.

Rather than demolishing and rebuilding, we chose to preserve the original footprints and exterior walls of Silver Sands wherever possible. Many longtime guests still recognize the places where memories were made decades ago. This approach not only honored the property’s history, but also significantly reduced the environmental impact associated with new construction.

Today, Silver Sands is one of only two all-electric hotels in the United States. Power lines have been buried to protect the horizon and strengthen resilience against storms. Water use has been reduced through native plantings and the decommissioning of turf and pools. Even the oyster shells from our restaurants return to the bay, forming new reefs that filter the water and feed future life. These efforts are not abstract; they are living expressions of reverence for a site recognized by The Nature Conservancy as one of the “Last Great Places.” They reveal how hospitality can restore rather than consume, how context-driven design can draw its meaning directly from the land, and how a guest experience can be enriched by the ecosystems that sustain it. At Silver Sands, comfort and beauty are inseparable from stewardship. To stay here is to be in dialogue with a living landscape.

Here, we share how our commitment to stewardship has taken form, shaping both the land and the experience it offers.

Biodiversity & Conservation Initiatives

Silver Sands in Greenport, North Fork, is a fossil-free, all-electric hotel committed to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and coastal preservation. Greenport’s premier sustainability-focused hotel, Silver Sands Motel, preserves the North Fork’s natural beauty. Explore the salt marsh at Silver Sands Motel in Greenport, a vital habitat for North Fork wildlife.
Silver Sands in Greenport, North Fork, is a fossil-free, all-electric hotel committed to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and coastal preservation. Explore the salt marsh at Silver Sands Motel in Greenport, a vital habitat for North Fork wildlife like purple martin bird colonies.

The Salt Marsh

Our 18-acre salt marsh is part of the Peconic Estuary System, recognized by The Nature Conservancy as one of the “Last Great Places in the Western Hemisphere.” It is among the most biologically productive ecosystems in the world, and its health is essential to the balance of the North Fork.

In caring for this rare landscape, we expanded a protected buffer along the marsh edge, ensuring it will remain free of turf and chemicals in perpetuity. We removed invasive species and planted thousands of native grasses, trees, and wildflowers, restoring natural habitat while reducing water use. These plantings stabilize the shoreline, filter stormwater, and provide food and shelter for pollinators, fish, and migrating birds. Bulkheads and dunes have been reinforced with native fescues and wildflowers, strengthening the marsh against erosion and rising seas.

Silver Sands in Greenport, North Fork, is a fossil-free, all-electric hotel committed to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and coastal preservation. Explore the salt marsh at Silver Sands Motel in Greenport, a vital habitat for North Fork wildlife.
Purple martins at Silver Sands Motel

Purple Martin Colony

In collaboration with the Centre Island Bird Sanctuary and the North Fork Audubon Society, we established a dedicated nesting colony for Purple Martins along the edge of our salt marsh. These swallows, once abundant across eastern North America, now rely almost entirely on human-made structures for survival as their natural habitats disappear.

At Silver Sands, a gourd tower provided safe harbor for them through the 2025 season. The first nesting pairs arrived in early May, filling all 14 gourds with four to five eggs each. By mid-August, the colony had completed its cycle and departed, and we now look forward with hope to their return in 2026. Throughout the season, Peggy Lauber, President of the North Fork Audubon Society, led tours of the colony for both guests and the local community. These visits offered education and insight into the species’ behavior, while also ensuring that every bird was monitored and thriving.

The Purple Martins are admired for their graceful flight and melodic dawn songs, yet their presence here is more than beautiful. It reflects the vulnerability of a species and the way thoughtful stewardship, combined with shared knowledge, can help protect it for generations to come.

Silver Sands in Greenport, North Fork, is a fossil-free, all-electric hotel committed to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and coastal preservation. Greenport’s premier sustainability-focused hotel, Silver Sands Motel, preserves the North Fork’s natural beauty. Explore the salt marsh at Silver Sands Motel in Greenport, a vital habitat for North Fork wildlife.
Silver Sands in Greenport, North Fork, is a fossil-free, all-electric hotel committed to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and coastal preservation. Explore the salt marsh at Silver Sands Motel in Greenport, a vital habitat for North Fork wildlife.
Purple martins at Silver Sands Motel
Silver Sands in Greenport, North Fork, is a fossil-free, all-electric hotel committed to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and coastal preservation. Explore the salt marsh at Silver Sands Motel in Greenport, a vital habitat for North Fork wildlife like purple martin bird colonies.
Silver Sands Motel's Seahorse Hotel in Greenport, NY, supports Northern lined seahorses in Pipes Cove through a partnership with Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program. The underwater habitat helps restore eelgrass ecosystems, protects marine biodiversity, and advances coastal conservation efforts on Long Island's North Fork.

PROTECTING THE SEAHORSES OF PIPES COVE

The seahorse that glows on Silver Sands’ historic neon sign is also a quiet inhabitant of Pipes Cove. In partnership with the Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program and its Back to the Bays Initiative, Silver Sands hosts a “Seahorse Hotel”- a temporary underwater habitat designed to support the Northern Lined Seahorse as local eelgrass meadows slowly regenerate. The structure provides safe anchoring points for the species, whose survival is closely tied to the health of shallow coastal ecosystems.

The project was funded through a community gathering at The Boathouse in fall 2025, bringing together neighbors, conservationists, and local stewards in support of a species many people are surprised to learn inhabits these waters. Northern Lined Seahorses return to the same estuaries where they are born and form long-term mating pairs, making the restoration and protection of their habitat deeply significant to the ecology of the cove.

Northern lined seahorse in eelgrass habitat within Pipes Cove and the Peconic Estuary on Long Island's North Fork. Seahorses use their prehensile tails to anchor themselves to eelgrass, which provides food, shelter, and protection. Healthy eelgrass meadows are essential to seahorse conservation, marine biodiversity, and coastal ecosystem restoration.
The Seahorse Hotel at Silver Sands Motel in Greenport, New York, is an underwater habitat created in partnership with the Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program's Back to the Bays Initiative. Located in Pipes Cove on the North Fork of Long Island, the structure provides anchoring habitat for Northern lined seahorses while supporting the restoration of eelgrass meadows and the health of local coastal ecosystems.

Did You Know?

A seahorse spends much of its life holding on. Northern lined seahorses use their prehensile tails to grasp blades of eelgrass, anchoring themselves against tides and currents in sheltered estuaries like nearby Pipes Cove.

These underwater meadows provide food, shelter, and protection from predators. When eelgrass declines, seahorses lose the habitat they depend on to survive. Because seahorses often return to the same estuaries where they are born, protecting and restoring eelgrass helps support one of the North Fork’s most surprising native residents.

Dark Sky Stewardship at Silver Sands Motel & Beach Bungalows in Greenport, New York. Outdoor lighting is carefully designed to minimize glare and light pollution, protecting migratory birds, nocturnal wildlife, and pollinating insects that rely on natural darkness. Located along the salt marshes and shoreline of Pipes Cove on Long Island's North Fork, the property preserves wildlife habitat while offering guests exceptional views of the night sky and astronomer-led stargazing experiences.

DARK SKY STEWARDSHIP

Designed in collaboration with Luminism Design, the outdoor lighting at Silver Sands was created to complement the landscape rather than compete with it. Migrating birds, nocturnal wildlife, and many pollinating insects rely on natural patterns of light and darkness to navigate, feed, and reproduce. To help protect these rhythms, lighting throughout the property was carefully designed to minimize glare and sky glow while avoiding the large pole fixtures commonly found at hotels and resorts. Instead, subtle pools of light guide guests through the grounds, illuminating pathways and gathering spaces while preserving the darkness of the surrounding marsh, shoreline, and night sky. This approach reduces disturbance to wildlife, enhances the natural beauty of the landscape after sunset, and preserves one of the North Fork’s increasingly rare treasures: a truly dark night sky.

SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING

Designed in collaboration with Hollander Design, our landscape was conceived as an extension of the surrounding salt marsh, meadows, and shoreline habitats. Through native plantings, habitat restoration, and chemical-free land care practices, the grounds support local wildlife while reducing resource consumption and strengthening the resilience of this fragile coastal environment. In 2025, Silver Sands received the prestigious Hospitality Design Award for Landscape & Outdoor Spaces, demonstrating that sustainability and beauty can go hand in hand. Highlights include:

Native Plantings: Over 7,260 native beach grass plugs and 5,761 native trees, shrubs, and perennials have been planted, creating habitat for pollinators, birds, and other wildlife.

Water-Efficient Landscaping: By replacing traditional turf grass with native, drought-tolerant plantings and removing a seasonal swimming pool, Silver Sands significantly reduced water consumption while creating healthier habitat for wildlife.

Preservation Efforts: We retained dozens of century-old trees during the property’s rejuvenation and champion toxic-free land care practices.

Infrastructure Enhancements: Critical bulkheads were rebuilt and non-turf buffer zones expanded to help protect nearby coastal and freshwater wetlands.

Pollinator-Friendly Spaces: Guests can explore our guide to the plants & pollinators that thrive throughout the property. 

Silver Sands in Greenport, North Fork, is a fossil-free, all-electric hotel committed to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and coastal preservation. Eco-friendly hotel in Greenport—Silver Sands Motel restores biodiversity with sustainable landscaping.
Silver Sands in Greenport, North Fork, is a fossil-free, all-electric hotel committed to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and coastal preservation. Eco-friendly hotel in Greenport—Silver Sands Motel restores biodiversity with sustainable landscaping.
Landscaping at Silver Sands Motel in Greenport, North Fork, Long Island, designed by Edmund Hollander and Melissa Reavis of Hollander Design—an ecologically restorative, guest-centric landscape along Pipes Cove in Peconic Bay. The historic 1957 midcentury motel has been reimagined as a sustainable hospitality destination and was named an HD Awards finalist for its context-driven development.
Silver Sands in Greenport, North Fork, is a fossil-free, all-electric hotel committed to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and coastal preservation. Explore the salt marsh at Silver Sands Motel in Greenport, a vital habitat for North Fork wildlife.
Silver Sands in Greenport, North Fork, is a fossil-free, all-electric hotel committed to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and coastal preservation. Explore the salt marsh at Silver Sands Motel in Greenport, a vital habitat for North Fork wildlife.
Silver Sands Motel’s refillable Flamingo Estate toiletries reduce plastic waste in luxury hotel rooms.

Waste Reduction & Eco-Friendly Practices

  • Reusable Water Bottles: To help reduce single-use plastic waste, each room is equipped with reusable water bottles, and filtered water stations are located throughout the property for convenient refilling.
  • Sustainable Bath Amenities: Guest rooms feature Flamingo Estate bath products made with plant-based ingredients and packaged in refillable dispensers that reduce single-use plastic waste. The products are cruelty-free, palm-free, biodegradable, and packaged in recyclable aluminum, reflecting our commitment to responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship.
  • Seaweed-based Skincare: The Salt Marsh Wellness Sanctuary exclusively uses OSEA, a clean skincare line formulated with sustainably sourced seaweed, botanicals, and ocean-derived ingredients. Vegan, cruelty-free, and Climate Neutral Certified, OSEA prioritizes recyclable packaging and coastal restoration initiatives, making it a natural partner for a wellness experience inspired by the rhythms of land and sea.
  • Linen and Towel Reuse Program: To help conserve water and energy, bed linens are refreshed every third day unless otherwise requested. Guests are also encouraged to reuse towels during their stay, reducing water consumption while supporting more sustainable operations.
  • Energy Efficiency: Silver Sands operates as one of the nation’s few all-electric hotels. Guest rooms and building systems utilize energy-efficient technologies and smart controls designed to reduce energy consumption while maintaining comfort throughout the year.

Sustainable Sourcing

We prioritize locally and sustainably sourced materials in every aspect of our operations, ensuring that our practices align with our commitment to the environment and the local community.

  • Farm-to-Table Philosophy: Our dining options feature fresh, organic ingredients sourced from local farms, emphasizing a farm-to-table approach.
  • Seasonal and Local Menus: We highlight local, sustainable, and seasonal menu items, supporting North Fork growers and reducing the environmental impact of long-distance transportation.
  • Vegan and Vegetarian Options: Our menus include vegan and vegetarian dishes, offering environmentally friendly alternatives with a lower ecological footprint
  • Ethical Ingredients: Our offerings include cage-free eggs, sustainably sourced coffee, and responsibly sourced seafood. Endangered species are strictly banned from all menus
  • Food Waste Reduction: A robust food waste reduction program, supported by inventory management systems, helps minimize waste and promote efficiency.
  • Seasonal Flowers: When seasonally available, we source flowers locally to celebrate the beauty of the region and support local growers.
Local clams at Eddie’s waterfront restaurant in Greenport on the North Fork of Long Island at Silver Sands Motel, showcasing fresh coastal seafood dining with harbor views.
Vegan and vegetarian-friendly hotel dining at Silver Sands Motel in Greenport, North Fork.

Guest Engagement in Sustainability

From exploring the salt marsh to tasting oysters harvested just offshore, every experience at Silver Sands is rooted in the landscape. Our efforts to preserve and restore these ecosystems are inseparable from the guest experience, creating moments that are as meaningful as they are beautiful. We invite guests to join us in this stewardship, participating in conservation initiatives that strengthen the North Fork’s extraordinary biodiversity for generations to come.

Oyster Shell Recycling:

In collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Back to the Bays Initiative, shells from our restaurants, Nookies and Eddie’s Oyster Bar, are repurposed for marine restoration projects. Instead of ending up in landfills, these shells are collected, cured for 6-12 months to eliminate contaminants, and then utilized in oyster reef restoration efforts. This sustainable practice supports the growth of future oyster populations, enhances water quality, and provides crucial habitat for various marine species, thereby contributing significantly to the health and resilience of our local marine ecosystems.

Beach Clean-Up Stations:

Silver Sands is a proud collaborator with Relic as part of their Coastal Collaborative. We have partnered with them to install a beach clean-up station at Silver Sands, providing recycled plastic baskets that empower guests to join us in fighting plastic pollution by collecting litter during their beach walks. This initiative transforms ordinary strolls into opportunities for conservation, helping to maintain pristine beaches while raising awareness about coastal pollution. Each station is a step toward ensuring clean and usable beaches for future generations.

Experience sustainability-focused travel at Silver Sands Motel—immersive conservation efforts in Greenport, NY. In collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Back to the Bays Initiative, shells from our restaurants, Nookies and Eddie's Oyster Bar, are repurposed for marine restoration projects. Instead of ending up in landfills, these shells are collected, cured for 6-12 months to eliminate contaminants, and then utilized in oyster reef restoration efforts.
Silver Sands in Greenport, North Fork, is a fossil-free, all-electric hotel committed to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and coastal preservation. Join Silver Sands Motel’s beach clean-up initiative, protecting North Fork’s pristine shores. Silver Sands is a proud collaborator with Relic as part of their Coastal Collaborative. We have partnered with them to install a beach clean-up station at Silver Sands, providing recycled plastic baskets that empower guests to join us in fighting plastic pollution by collecting litter during their beach walks.
Silver Sands in Greenport, North Fork, is a fossil-free, all-electric hotel committed to sustainability, environmental stewardship, and coastal preservation. Silver Sands Motel’s oyster shell recycling program restores marine habitats in Peconic Bay. In collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Back to the Bays Initiative, shells from our restaurants, Nookies and Eddie's Oyster Bar, are repurposed for marine restoration projects. Instead of ending up in landfills, these shells are collected, cured for 6-12 months to eliminate contaminants, and then utilized in oyster reef restoration efforts.

SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY & THE SLOW FOOD SNAIL OF APPROVAL

For us, sustainability is not only ecological but social. Silver Sands operates year-round, providing steady employment on the North Fork where hospitality work is too often seasonal. Many of our team members have been with us since the beginning, forming a close-knit community that defines the spirit of the property.

We prioritize hiring locally and partnering with nearby farms, fisheries, and makers. These relationships shorten supply chains, reduce emissions, and, most importantly, keep our work grounded in the character of this place. Guests experience not just a hotel, but a reflection of the community that surrounds it.

Social sustainability, to us, means continuity. It means supporting the people, traditions, and livelihoods that give the North Fork its identity while ensuring that hospitality contributes positively to the place it calls home.

In recognition of these efforts, Silver Sands was awarded the Slow Food Snail of Approval in December 2025. Presented by Slow Food East End, the designation recognizes food and beverage establishments that embody the values of good, clean, and fair food. Evaluated across sourcing, environmental impact, cultural connection, community involvement, staff support, and business values, the award reflects more than what is served on the plate. It acknowledges the relationships, practices, and principles that shape how a business serves its community.

For us, the recognition affirms the work taking place across Nookies, Eddie’s, and The Boathouse every day: sourcing from North Fork farms and fisheries, supporting our team year-round, and treating hospitality as an extension of stewardship.

Learn more at slowfoodeastend.org/snail.

Community & Local Partners

We take immense pride in the rich network of local businesses that we consider not just partners but friends. Their valued contributions have been instrumental in our journey, and we are grateful for their unwavering support:

ABT Fire; Ace Hardware Southold; Agway Southold; Amagansett Building Materials; American Neon; Backyard Blooms North Fork Flower Farm; Beachwood Masonry Supply; C&M Contracting Corp; CAST; Chem-Dry; Chenal & Tzun Construction; Clarke’s Garden & Home; Cole Environmental; Condon Engineering; Cornell Cooperative Extension; Costello Marine; Daniel Wilcenski Electrical; Delfino Insulation; Dos Ositos Paletas; Firematic; GP Hommel; Greenport Harbor Brewing Company; Greenport Municipal Utilities; IGA; Islandia Pools; JCG Gardens Masonry & Landscaping; Honeybody Bakery; JP McHale; JVY Landscaping LLC; KK’s the Farm; Kehl Design; Latham Farms; Latham Sand & Gravel; Long Island Cauliflower Association; Long Island Window Treatments; Luminism; Mattituck Environmental Services; Mattituck Laundry; McCall Wines; McLaughlin Heating & Cooling; Michael A. Kimack, Esq.; Morris Cesspool; NJ Mazzaferro PE; North Fork Adventure Charters; North Fork Custom Carpentry; North Fork Tree Inc.; Oregon Road Organics; Owen Brothers Landscape Development; Port Automotive; Port Lumber; Ratsey Construction; Relic Design LLC; Riverhead Building Supply; S. Heaney Marine Construction; S&L Irrigation; S.T. Preston & Son Inc.; Sentry Automatic Fire Protection; Sound Side Landscape Construction; Southold Fish Market; Stanley F. Skrezec; Suffolk Cement Precast; Taps Welding; The Clausen Agency; Treiber Farms; UPC Sand Blasting; Velazquez Landscaping & Masonry Inc.; Wm J Mills & Co; Wooden Boat Works; Young & Young Surveying.

These partnerships are not simply business arrangements, but expressions of a shared commitment to a sustainable, interconnected community. Together, we nurture a North Fork that is vibrant, resilient, and deeply rooted in place.