Entry No. 86 — the New York City file — filed under: ruins
Ruins of King Zog Estate
Originally built between 1906 and 1920 as the Knollwood Estate, this grand 60-room mansion was purchased in 1951 by King Zog I of Albania to serve as his kingdom-in-exile. He never moved in, and rumors of hidden treasure led vandals to ransack the property before it was demolished in 1959. Today, hikers can explore the crumbling stone staircases, walled gardens, and foundation ruins reclaimed by the surrounding Muttontown Preserve.
The story
Knollwood Estate wasn't built for deposed Balkan royalty—it was raised between 1906 and 1920 as a grand 60-room Gold Coast mansion. But in 1951, King Zog I, the exiled monarch of Albania who had fled his homeland after the 1939 Italian invasion, bought the Muttontown property aiming to establish a kingdom-in-exile. He envisioned housing a full royal court on Long Island, but despite purchasing the estate, he never actually moved in.
Left vacant and unguarded, the grand house quickly became a magnet for local rumors. Word spread across Long Island that Zog had stashed his royal fortune—gold coins or crown treasures—behind the plaster and beneath the floorboards. Vandals and treasure hunters broke in and systematically gutted the place, ripping through walls and smashing stonework in pursuit of a myth. By 1959, the heavily vandalized structure was declared a safety hazard and demolished down to its foundation.
Nassau County eventually absorbed the parcel into the surrounding Muttontown Preserve, letting the forest reclaim the rubble. You aren't going to find any buried gold, but what remains is striking: double stone staircases that ascend into empty tree canopy, moss-covered garden walls, and deep foundation pits sunken into the leaf litter.
What it's like
Park at the Muttontown Preserve lot on Muttontown Road and follow the dirt trails into the woods. It's a 20- to 30-minute walk through quiet forest before heavy stone masonry suddenly appears through the trees. You'll stumble across double granite staircases, broken terrace walls, and foundation blocks swallowed by saplings. The site draws a steady trickle of local hikers and urban explorers, so hit the trails early on a weekday if you want the stone steps to yourself—and watch your footing around unfenced drops.
The move: Take a scenic hike through the Muttontown Preserve to hunt for the hidden stone ruins, then snap photos together on the grand, moss-covered double staircase.
📍 Before you go The ruins are located on public land within Nassau County's Muttontown Preserve and are legally accessible to hikers via marked trails.
- 📍 Syosset
- 💸 Free
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 1858 Muttontown Rd, Syosset, NY 11791, USA
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current access before you go.
Pair it with
- The Sisyphus Stones — Pair Long Island's ruined Albanian exile estate with the precarious rock towers stacked along the Hudson shoreline by Albanian-born artist Uliks Gryka.
- Renwick Smallpox Hospital Ruin — Contrast this overgrown woodland ruin on Long Island with New York City's only official landmarked stone ruin on Roosevelt Island.
- Untermyer Gardens (Walled Persian Garden & Vista) — For a Gilded Age estate where the stone terraces and walled gardens were restored rather than demolished, head to Untermyer in Yonkers.
Good to know
Is visiting the ruins legal?
Yes. The ruins sit inside Nassau County's public Muttontown Preserve and are legally accessible to hikers via marked trails.
Did King Zog ever actually live at the mansion?
No. King Zog I purchased the 60-room estate in 1951 to serve as a kingdom-in-exile, but he never lived on the property before it was vandalized and demolished in 1959.
Was buried treasure ever found at the site?
No. The rumors of hidden Albanian treasure or gold coins behind the walls were pure local legend, though they directly drove the vandalism that destroyed the mansion.
Where do I park to reach the ruins?
Park at the preserve entrance at 1858 Muttontown Rd in Syosset and follow the trail network into the woods toward the old estate grounds.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Atlas Obscura · Untapped Cities
last checked: 2026-07-20