In 1973, facing community opposition and the state's deteriorating budget situation, the Long Island Expressway extension was cancelled, ending abruptly at Horseblock Road (which us children have a more obscene term for) and Old Country Road about 5 miles outside of Riverhead. A series of outlet mauls, an amusement park and other businesses popped up very conveniently at the end of the L.I.E., hoping to capture the dollar of the tourist heading out to the wild country of Western Long Island after leaving the city. Manhattan is roughly 70 miles to the west on Nation's Largest Parking Lot as some people call the L.I.E.