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The scenic drive along West Shore Road, heading to Mill Neck Manor, is punctuated by the view of sailboats skimming across Oyster Bay and glimpses of hilltop mansions - just what you'd expect from a grand old Gold Coast estate that seems plucked from the pages of F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby."
Nearly 90 years after it was built, the stately Tudor Revival-style mansion is opening its massive wood doors to the public for guided monthly tours. It's a chance to poke around a historic marvel that's been used for TV and movie shoots, as well as designer show houses, among other things.
About the house
Built around 1921 for $2million, Mill Neck Manor originally was the home of cosmetic heiress Lillian Sefton Dodge and her second husband, Robert. The three-story stone mansion is 60,000 square feet and has 34 rooms, nearly all of which are part of the 90-minute tour.
The house and its 86 acres were purchased by Lutheran Friends of the Deaf in...