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The once serene and upscale Hamptons destination, now known for the tragic discovery of a designer’s death on a yacht, is reportedly overrun by party-loving, affluent youngsters, causing disorder in the vicinity, according to local residents.
Long-time inhabitants of Montauk, located at the furthest point of Long Island, feel that the demise of 33-year-old Martha Nolan-O’Slattara highlights the rampant party culture that has overtaken the area.
What was once a peaceful and tightly-knit coastal community has transformed with the arrival of social media influencers, turning it into a famed party locale with an abundant availability of drugs.
‘It’s absolutely changed,’ a marina operator who has lived in Montauk his entire life, told Fox News Digital.
‘Social media put Montauk on the map. It used to be a fishing village… now it’s a very happening place.’
Montauk’s stunning shores, classic east coast charm and great restaurants have all helped entice influencers to its shores.
But long-time locals say the area is now so famous they fear the fabric of the community is being torn apart.
Massive luxury development projects have sprung up, with hotels and docks being revamped to accommodate demanding wealthy incomers.
The eastern Long Island coastal community used to be close-knit and peaceful – until social influencers flung it into the spotlight (pictured: Kirk Park Beach in Montauk)
Locals claim influencer culture has resulted in a booming party scene in Montauk (pictured: a party in Montauk in July)
Martha Nolan-O’Slattara (pictured), 33, was found dead on a boat at the Montauk Yacht Club last week
‘This is mostly a peaceful, family-friendly spot,’ an anonymous local told Fox News Digital.
‘But in the summer, there’s a younger crowd that comes in and they party hard. You see the yachts, the nightlife – it’s become a kind of escape valve for New York’s elite.’
One lifelong resident said the area has become full of ‘spoiled kids using their parents’ credit cards’ who love drugs and partying.
Community members were forced to consider the rapidly changing nature of their beloved home after Nolan-O’Slattara was found dead on a boat at the Montauk Yacht Club last week.
The young Irish fashion designer, who flaunted a glamorous life on social media, was known to visit Montauk frequently.
Investigators quickly established that there was no foul play involved in her untimely death.
A police spokesperson said a preliminary examination of Nolan-O’Slattara’s remains was ‘inconclusive’ and that a cause of death is ‘pending further examination.’
Daily Mail asked Suffolk County Police if the death was drug-related, but they refused to comment.
The young Irish fashion designer (pictured), who flaunted a glamorous life on social media, was known to visit Montauk frequently
One woman described a popular route between Newport, Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket lively boats filled with partying youngsters tend to follow (Pictured: the Montauk Yacht Club)
The yacht scene is particularly attractive among young elites, residents told Fox News Digital.
One woman described a popular route between Newport and Block Island in Rhode Island, then Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket in Massachusetts that lively boats filled with partying youngsters tend to follow.
Between yacht parties and a pumping bar scene, people have complained of loud music blaring all through the night, well into the early morning hours.
Michael Brown, a former DEA senior special agent, said the combination of a bustling nightlife scene and rich kids is a recipe for disaster.
‘Young adults are going to do drugs,’ Brown bluntly told Fox News Digital.
Young partiers with money are a prime consumer base for drug dealers, with the prospect of narcotics pushers further disturbing Montauk residents.
Dealers have been increasingly lacing drugs with fentanyl, and overdose deaths have skyrocketed, Brown, who is also the global director of counter-narcotics technology at Rigaku Analytical Devices, said.
‘You don’t know what’s in what you’re taking. And if I’m wrong, I’m gonna die in 30 seconds.’
Between yacht parties and a pumping bar scene, people have complained of loud music blaring all through the night, well into the early morning hours (pictured: partygoers in Montauk in July)
Investigators quickly established that there was no foul play involved in her untimely death (pictured: a detective on the boat O’Slattara was found dead on)
Each year, more than 100,000 people across the US die from drug overdoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
‘Local dealers spike cocaine with small amounts of fentanyl – not necessarily enough to kill, but to intensify the high and hook new users,’ he explained to the outlet.
‘We’re talking about individuals who are very well-off, especially young individuals – they have the money to spend.’
One resident has described the situation in Montauk as ‘craziness.’ And with influencers continuing to descend on the town throughout summer 2025 while sharing alluring snaps of their antics, the problem is likely only going to get worse.
