Paul McCartney’s Fire Island Bamboo House Reborn Through Art and Memory
A historic beach house on Fire Island Pines has been brought back to life by artist August West and her friends. The property, once owned by her grandfather Paul McCartney, had fallen into disrepair after his death in 2013. Now, after months of hands-on work, the house has been restored with a personal touch. Paul McCartney first bought the sandy plot in the Fire Island Pines for just $6,000. With help from architect Horace Gifford, he built a unique retreat in the 1960s. Every surface inside was covered in bamboo, earning it the nickname the Bamboo House. McCartney, a hairdresser by trade, ran a salon on St. Marks Place in New York during the '60s and '70s, where he styled Jane Fonda’s iconic shag haircut for the film Klute. Later in life, he turned to art, crafting sculptures from driftwood found along the shore. The restored Bamboo House now stands as a tribute to Paul McCartney’s artistic energy. New furnishings sit alongside original features, all shaped by the collective effort of West and her friends. The project ensures that the house remains a vibrant part of Fire Island’s history—just as Paul McCartney would have wanted.
