'Rocket Gibraltar' House In Westhampton Beach Is Up For Grabs

Jul 29, 2018 2:07 PM

Let’s set the scene: A 5-year-old boy—Macaulay Culkin in his film debut—is celebrating his grandfather Rockwell’s 77th birthday at his family’s Westhampton Beach estate when Mr. Rockwell—played by Burt Lancaster—tells his grandchildren he wants to be given a “Viking Funeral” after his death. Sure enough, Mr. Rockwell’s health fails over the course of the 1988 film “Rocket Gibraltar” and the grandkids rig up an abandoned rowboat, which bears the movie classic’s name, to give Grandpa a proper send off.

That estate at 32 Beach Lane in Westhampton Beach is now on the market for $5.9 million. Most recognizable from the silver screen is a three-story windmill that towers over the property accompanied by a maroonish-red barn nearby. It’s all represented by Town & Country Hamptons, and is as classic as Burt Lancaster himself.

“I only have seen the trailer recently,” listing agent Patrick Galway said. “But one of the older agents in my office, she actually leased it to the company who filmed it. She was even an extra, walking by holding a young Kevin Spacey’s hand.”

A breaktaking shingled manse partnered with modern luxuries from a 2008 redesign by Hamptons Habitat: the 7,057-square-foot floor space dons six bedrooms as well as six full bathrooms and two half baths fitted with marble and glass. Extra rooms are sprinkled around the house to make for office, den or playroom spaces. Hornbeam trees, hydrangeas and an arched front porch gives it real curbside appeal beyond the hedge line.

The two sets of French doors in the upstairs master suite open to the views of the landscaped 1.93-acre property, which is centered around a “priceless” copper beech tree. “It could be the oldest beech tree in Westhampton Beach,” Mr. Galway said. “I’m told those roots run hundreds of feet.

“Nevertheless, the private balcony is a perfect spot to enjoy a morning coffee.”

Stepping back inside, hardwood floors are under toe leading downstairs to a living room, large chef’s kitchen with breakfast room and, surrounded in seaweed wallpaper, the dining room with additional French doors that open to covered porches. A stone patio leads to an open-air cabana, a gazebo with a grand fireplace and a gunite pool—a place to cool off after spending time on the private tennis court.