Family sells Connecticut private island it owned for over 100 years for $26.5M

The Ziegler family has sold Hay Island, an 18-acre island off the coast of Connecticut, for $26.5 million. Property records show the sale closed in two November 2025 transactions to Hay Island CT II LLC: one for $6,360,000 and one for $20,140,000. The family had owned the island for more than 100 years.

The current main house is an 8,684-square-foot New England colonial built in 2010 and designed by Austin Patterson Disston. The six-bedroom, seven-bath property includes a two-bedroom guest house, an infinity-edge pool, two beaches, multiple fireplaces and water views throughout; the island remains accessible by road.

The Zieglers descend from industrialist William Ziegler Sr., cofounder of the Royal Baking Powder Company. In 2023 they sold another nearby holding, Great Island, to the town of Darien for $85 million, with plans to turn it into a public park. Forbes estimated the family's net worth at $2.8 billion in 2015.

hay island, ziegler family, connecticut, private island, 26.5 million, great island, darien, william ziegler, royal baking, austin patterson