Wantagh was originally named Ridgewood and was built as a South Side Railroad of Long Island depot between 1867 and 1875.

The former station was restored as part of the Wantagh Museum in 1969 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

Plans include demolishing and rebuilding the platform, replacing escalators, staircases, lighting, canopies, and waiting areas in addition to adding an elevator, making that station wheelchair accessible.

During the winter time when they were putting in the ASIM (Automated Snow and Ice Melt) system, the temperatures were in the teens for a few weeks causing the pipes to burst from being frozen.

Phase II or Western half of the platform started a week later and was completed in early-October 2018, completing the stations rehabilitation project, including further rehabilitation to the station's Eastern half to correct the repairs and seal both halves together.