Iona Island is a 556-acre bedrock island, part of the Hudson River nature reserve in Stony Point, New York. It is part of Bear Mountain State Park. It serves mainly as a bird sanctuary, particularly known as a winter nesting place for Bald Eagles. It was originally known as Salisbury Island, and later as Weyant's Island (for the local Weyant, or Weiant, family). In 1847, it was bought by John Beveridge for Dr. E. W. Grant, his great son-in-law, who renamed it Iona Island and planted it with Iona grapes and fruit trees. In 1868, his creditors foreclosed on the island. The construction of the West Shore Railroad across the island in 1882 made it accessible to tourists, and an amusement park, hotel, and picnic grounds were built there. It also had a dock to accommodate pleasure steamers on the river. In 1900, the island was bought by the U.S. Navy for use as a naval ammunition depot, which remained in service until 1947. It was bought by the Palisades Interstate Park Commission in 1965. (re:wikipedia.com)