Here Are Bayside's Top 10 Secrets

QUEENS, NY — To many, Bayside is itself considered a well-kept secret — a nearly suburban neighborhood with tranquil waterside views and some of the city's best eateries.

A recent ranking, though, has highlighted some of the area's even lesser-known features.

The list of Bayside's top 10 secrets, compiled by Untapped New York, delves into the neighborhood's contemporary and historic mysteries.

Ranging from secret tunnels at Fort Totten to the city's oldest living organism hidden in the area, the list features a range of lesser-known neighborhood spots.

Whether you are a born-and-raised Baysider or moved to the area more recently, check out the list of Bayside's top 10 secrets below.

1. Secret tunnels at Fort Totten: The former military base used from the Civil War through the 1980s is replete with underground tunnels, possibly including a mythic corridor between the Queens fort and the Bronx. Read more here.

2. A once-amusement park at Alley Pond Park: Until getting destroyed by a fire in 1964, the amusement park Kiddy City was the third largest amusement park citywide, including 24 rides, a batting cage, an arcade and more. Read more here.

3. The site of a yacht club murder: Dubbed the "Murder at the Regatta," a Bayside yacht club was the site of a well-known magazine editor in the early 1900s. Read more here.

4. A so-called castle: In addition to secret underground tunnels, Fort Totten is home to a "castle" turned historic society site. Read more here.

5. NYC's oldest living organism: Hidden in the Alley Pond Park brush is a tulip tree believed to be over 350 years old, making it the oldest living organism in the city. Known as "The Alley Pond Giant," the tree has withstood centuries of city history, including the Revolutionary War to Hurricane Sandy. Read more here.

6. A Titanic survivor's home: Not only is it considered to be one of the oldest residences in Queens and the oldest in Bayside, the Cornell-Appleton House, located at 214-33 33rd Road, was home to survivors of the Titanic. Read more here.

7. A historic mansion turned Italian restaurant: Before it was Vivo, a popular Italian and Mediterranean restaurant, the mansion at 201-10 Cross Island Parkway was home to an Italian actor and former New York City mayor. Read more here.

8. And many other famous homes: Many other famous movie stars — Gloria Swanson, Charlie Chaplin, Rosie O'Donnell and more — also have lived in homes scattered throughout the area. Read more here.

9. Holocaust artifacts: Located at Queensborough Community College, the Harriet and Kenneth Kupferberg Holocaust Center is home to a collection of thousands of Holocaust books, hundreds of recordings with local survivors and even more historic artifacts. Read more here.

10. A park named after a famous family: The namesake family behind Crocheron Park has had roots in New York since the late 1600s, including one family member who owned a legendary hotel, another who raced horses alongside Cornelius Vanderbilt (also of NYC infamy) and a third who was a member of Congress. Read more here.