There's been a mixed bag of emotions the past 5 years concerning the "changes" in Montauk. Newbie city dwellers fawn over the "fishing town" vibe that is so "un-Hamptons," while many veteran Montauk visitors seem to feel the small town they once knew is rapidly disappearing. In response to an article about the Montauk Beach House, we received this email:
[Vintage photo of the Ronjo, Photo via]
"After reading the article that you wrote yesterday - I have to ask myself - what in the hell is going on in MONTAUK?
$300 to $650 per night with a Beachclub Membership so that you can use their pool
REALLY????
It's not the Riviera it's Montauk an OLD TIME FISHING VILLAGE. I'm 59 years of age and I've going out to the East End since I was 12.
LEAVE THIS BULLSHIT IN THE HAMPTONS...WE DON'T NEED IT IN MONTAUK.
AND FEEL FREE TO PASS MY COMMENTS ONTO THE OWNERS...I COULD CARE LESS."
What are your thoughts on the changes in Montauk? Leave us a comment or tweet @ us @GofGHamptons.
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kymber
June 11, 2012
8:19pm
I have been going to Montauk on vacation since I was a baby. I now have two of my own. My grandfather brought my mother and the rest of the family there when it WAS just a little ole fishing town and not much more. It is a little upsetting to see things like the Surf Club and now the Beach House taking over with their ridiculous rates and shi-shi rooms. Montauk was always the place to go with your family. We stayed at the no frills Ronjo for 30 years. Why? Because of the location and it had the best layout of any of the other motels in town. We didn't care about the rooms, we were only in there to sleep. Very sad to see it go and now I wouldn't even think of taking my family to the Beach House. This place belongs in the Hamptons.
enoughalready
June 11, 2012
9:33pm
Note to the NIMBY's: it could be worse, it could be CONDOS! Let's not complain about a motel getting a fauxhemian make over. Let's focus more on preservation and not allowing the commercial and sport fishing docks to disappear. The pressure is on to replace it all with condos. Don't let it happen!
Montauker
June 13, 2012
4:38pm
Would it be better if you left the decaying Ronjo the way it was? If that's what you want I guess you have fond memories of bedbug and smelly rooms. The renovation is a great thing for our town and I for one hope it succeeds in attracting the next generation to the wonderful natural beauty of Montauk.