Following the storm, virtually all of the trees on the once-forested peninsula were destroyed, allowing the coastal vegetation to occupy the landscape.
A New York developer proposed Sandy Point be subdivided into 674 lots and in response a syndicate of Watch Hill residents purchased the land to prevent the construction of the "cheap little houses" that might change the exclusive character of their village.
[1] Prior to the 1938 Hurricane making landfall on the Northeastern United States, Napatree and Sandy Points formed a single peninsula.
The Gildersleeve family gave Sandy Point to the Avalonia Land Conservancy in 1982 to be protected and used as a nature preserve.
Following the Avalonia Land Conservancy's acquisition of the island in 1982, Sandy Point has served an important ecological role for wildlife in the region.
It mainly serves as a place of refuge and a breeding ground for shoreline birds such as the piping plover, American oystercatcher, least tern, and several species of gulls.
[4] Sandy Point Island has been a popular recreation site for boaters and beachgoers who enjoy its soft sand and shallow waters.
[5] Despite some initial opposition,[6] increased educational outreach has led most Sandy Point visitors to accept the island's dual-purpose vocation and respect the boundaries established each year for nesting shorebirds.