[3] The area is referred to locally as the Montauk Moorlands, and was privately owned prior to the state's initial purchase of 122 acres (0.49 km2) in 2005.

[4] At the time of its purchase, the property represented one of the largest unprotected continuous tracts of undeveloped land in Montauk.

[7] The property is owned jointly by New York State, the Town of East Hampton and Suffolk County.

It includes 1,288 feet (393 m) of ocean frontage, several ponds and 54 acres (220,000 m2) of tidal and freshwater wetlands.

[6] Woody vegetation at Amsterdam Beach consists mainly of shadbush (Amelanchier), highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum), black cherry (Prunus serotina), arrowwood (Viburnum dentatum), and several species of holly (Ilex).