On the western tip of Martha’s Vineyard in Aquinnah, more than 330 acres of private land once owned by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and her daughter Caroline Kennedy have been opened to the public as the Squibnocket Pond Reservation. The transformation from exclusive estate to nature preserve began in 2020, when the Kennedy-Schlossberg family sold the majority of the property to land conservation organizations on the island.

Acquired by Onassis in 1978 for $1.1 million under the name Red Gate Farm, the land remained in the family until its sale in two major transactions. In December 2020, the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank and the Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation purchased 304 acres for $27 million, followed by an additional 32-acre parcel acquired a year later for $10 million. The family retained approximately 95 acres, including the Cape Cod-style house and guesthouse, maintaining their privacy separate from the newly established reservation.

The preserve features a variety of landscapes, including oaks, maples, and beetlebungs shaped by coastal conditions, as well as moors, ponds, and miles of beach coastline. A newly added trail along Squibnocket Pond allows visitors to glimpse an old hunting cabin where Onassis once hosted gatherings. Plans for 2024 include making kayaks available for visitors to access the pond, though access remains limited due to sparse parking—reserved through an online system—and the remote location requiring a walk of about 25 minutes to the shore. Cellphone coverage in the area is also limited.

The Land Bank’s executive director, James Lengyel, explained that the trailhead was deliberately located to ensure visitors experience the site’s seclusion and natural beauty with minimal crowds. The reservation provides an opportunity to appreciate coastal ecosystems largely untouched by ongoing development pressures elsewhere on the island.

The land holds special historical and cultural significance. Onassis reportedly cherished the area’s rolling hills, dunes, and ponds, viewing it as a sanctuary close to nature, family, and literature. The property carries Kennedy family memories, such as John F. Kennedy Jr.’s windsurfing on Squibnocket Pond during the 1990s and the wedding of Tatiana Schlossberg in 2017. Locals recall the estate’s private nature, with occasional armed guards during family visits.

Prior to becoming a reserve, the land was held by the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), whose ancestors have inhabited the island for millennia. The reservation includes locations significant in Wampanoag tradition, such as Black Brook and Witch Pond. Tribal leaders indicated they were not consulted before the property’s sale and expressed a desire to have been involved in discussions about stewardship or ownership. Tribal chairman Kevin Devine emphasized the importance of balancing conservation with the island’s housing and development challenges.

The issue of affordable housing has been a longstanding concern on Martha’s Vineyard, exacerbated by rising property values and limited availability. In 2006, the Kennedy-Schlossberg family contributed $100,000 to Aquinnah’s affordable housing fund during a subdivision project. However, some local leaders and tribal members, including Aquinnah Board of Selectmen chair Juli Vanderhoop, have voiced disappointment that the land’s preservation did not include provisions for community housing.

Conservation advocates highlight the ecological value of the reserve, home to more than 30 rare species, including spotted turtles and various orchids. Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation president Adam Moore spoke to the importance of protecting these sensitive habitats, noting the property's unique natural features and relatively pristine condition compared to developed coastal areas between Boston and Washington, D.C.

With careful management, the Squibnocket Pond Reservation offers public access to a historically private landscape marked by ecological diversity and Kennedy family heritage. While the preservation effort does not address all community needs, it protects a significant portion of Martha’s Vineyard from further development, reinforcing the island’s commitment to balancing nature and growth.