Inside Castle Gould: Long Island’s Historic Estate Turned “FBI” Filming Location

/

Broadway Stages takes pride in supporting our vibrant local communities. Our Filming Location Spotlight series highlights local shops, restaurants, landmarks, and venues where productions that call Broadway Stages home have filmed "on location." We encourage our readers to explore and support these unique spots and join the film and television industry in helping sustain our neighborhoods' economies and culture! In this edition, we go on a quest to Castle Gould at Sands Point Preserve in Nassau County.

The hit TV show “FBI”  keeps Broadway Stages on its toes! Over seven seasons, we have been the production studio for an elite team of agents who chase criminals all over New York City and beyond. The action has raced through numerous parks, across college campuses, around corners at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and even onto the Staten Island Ferry. But this past January, the production filmed “on-location” at the picturesque Castle Gould at Sands Point Preserve in Nassau County for Season 7, Episode 13 (“Unearth”), which aired earlier this year.

The Gilded Age Legacy of Sands Point Preserve

Sands Point is located on the North Shore of Long Island, New York. It is part of the historic Gold Coast, a region famous for its early 20th-century mansions built by some of America’s wealthiest families. Today, the estate is known as Sands Point Preserve, a 216-acre public property open to visitors.

Sands Point was originally made up of grand private estates constructed during the Gilded Age and early 1900s. The estate was established by Howard Gould and later purchased and expanded by industrialist Daniel Guggenheim. Sands Point Preserve symbolized wealth, power, and architectural opulence during Long Island’s Gold Coast era. It is one of the most iconic preserved estates from Long Island’s Gold Coast era, famously referenced in F. Scott Fitzgerald’s “The Great Gatsby.”

In the 1970s, the estate was transferred from private ownership to a public conservancy, ensuring its preservation. The estate offers a rare opportunity for the public to explore original mansions, gardens, wooded trails, and waterfront cliffs. Its rich history and architectural diversity make it an important cultural and historical landmark on Long Island.

Castle Gould: Gothic Revival Architecture on Long Island

Located within Sands Point Preserve is Castle Gould. Financier Howard Gould built the structure, and construction was finished in 1902. While the castle was named after Gould’s wife, actress Katherine Clemmons Gould, and was intended to be the primary residence of the Gould family, she ultimately rejected it. Later, it was repurposed as a carriage house, stables, and servant quarters. About fifteen years later, Daniel Guggenheim acquired the estate, including Castle Gould, as part of his Sands Point property.

Explore Castle Gould’s Storybook Grandeur

Castle Gould is positioned at the entrance of Sands Point Preserve, making it the first significant building visitors encounter. The castle is surrounded by lush green lawns, open meadows, tree-lined pathways, and gravel courtyards. Its landscape setting creates clear sightlines to the nearby Hempstead House and waterfront views. The surrounding landscape balances manicured estate gardens with natural wooded areas and coastal scenery.

Visitors cannot help but be struck by its heavy stone walls and towering silhouette. Modeled after Kilkenny Castle in Ireland, Castle Gould was designed in the Medieval Gothic Revival style. The structure features limestone and granite walls, towers, battlements, and an enclosed courtyard. Arched entryways and large, heavy wooden doors give the building a dramatic, fortress-like presence. Its grand and rustic ambiance offers a tranquil retreat from modern life, transporting visitors through time.

Castle Gould is often mistaken for the main house because of its imposing exterior. However, the building serves as the visitor center, event venue, and administrative offices for Sands Point Preserve today. The Great Hall is accessed through the rotunda beneath the castle’s massive clock tower. Often used for private events, this space is a fully renovated multi-purpose room with grand vaulted ceilings, wrought-iron chandeliers, and plush draperies over enormous windows overlooking the Preserve’s grounds and the distant view of the Long Island Sound. While Castle Gould is not open for tours, many after-school classes, family nature programs, and cultural events take place inside its Great Hall.

Hempstead House: A Gold Coast Mansion Steeped in Elegance

Another feature well worth visiting at Sands Point Preserve is Hempstead House. Howard Gould commissioned Hempstead House after his wife rejected Castle Gould as their primary residence. The mansion was built between 1912 and 1916 in the English Tudor Revival style. It represents the height of Gold Coast extravagance and is a vivid example of early 20th-century luxury architecture. It is famous for its mahogany-paneled library, vaulted entry hall, grand staircase, and stained-glass windows. In 1917, Daniel Guggenheim transformed it into an elegant family retreat. During his time there, the mansion hosted elaborate social gatherings and entertained influential guests. Today, it is available for public tours and special events.

What to See at Sands Point Preserve Today

There is so much to see and experience here. For instance, Falaise is a French-Norman-style home museum open seasonally for guided tours. The Preserve also features miles of trails, formal gardens, nature preserves, and breathtaking waterfront views.

The Sands Point Preserve Conservancy currently manages it. They ensure the property maintains its state of excellence through ongoing restoration and preservation projects.

They also facilitate public tours, educational programs, seasonal festivals, and community events. Private rentals are available for weddings, concerts, and corporate events. And, of course, the estate has become a popular filming location because of its dramatic, authentic historical setting. To find out more about events at Sands Point, click here.

Plan Your Visit to Sands Point Preserve: Hours, Admission, and Tips

The estate is ideal for nature walks, photography, and picnics by the Long Island Sound. An added bonus for those with furry family members is that Sands Point Preserve is dog-friendly on designated trails. Admission to the Preserve is $15 per car or free for Sands Point Preserve Conservancy members. Walk-in admission is $4 per person.

Wednesday, May 28 through Monday, Sept. 1 this year, the hours are:

●        Wednesdays through Sundays: 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

●        Open Labor Day (Sept. 1): 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Please note that access to certain mansion interiors and event spaces may require advance reservations.

To find out more information about visiting, click here. To become a member of the Sands Point Preserve Conservancy, click here. Be sure to follow the Conservancy on Facebook and Instagram for news, stories, and images!

Sands Point Preserve: A Filming Location with Historic Charm

Sites like Castle Gould at Sands Point Preserve are part of New York's magic, adding authentic character to the city's cultural landscape and making them ideal filming locations. By partnering with independent restaurants, bars, shops, and other businesses across the city, the film and TV industry is able to enhance the authenticity of its productions and also contribute to the success of these businesses that make New York special. Whether it's a pivotal scene in a television show or a quiet moment in a feature film, these locations offer a unique sense of the city we love.

At Broadway Stages, we are committed to supporting the businesses that make New York City's neighborhoods thrive. Experience Castle Gould for yourself, and when you get there, be sure to tell them Broadway Stages sent you!

One of New York’s largest and most trusted full-service production studio companies, offering comprehensive services for film, television, live streaming, commercials, live performances, music videos, and more. With over 40 years of experience, we’ve become a cornerstone of New York’s thriving creative industry.

With more than 60 soundstages spanning across Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island, Broadway Stages offers over 4 million square feet of state-of-the-art production space, including soundstages, support space, distinctive filming locations, parking, and in-house services for lighting, power, and grip rentals. We provide tailored solutions for productions of all sizes, delivering the resources and expertise needed to meet your creative and technical needs.

Learn about film and TV industry jobs, training, and more in the Broadway Stages’ Industry Resource Guide. Our guide provides information and links to put you in touch with industry-focused job posting sites; general recruiting sites; education and training programs; and state, city, and borough industry information.