There is a very special place in New York State where the rare and elusive white deer can be found, Deer Haven Park in Romulus. Deer Haven Park is located in the Old Seneca Army Depot, a 7,000-acre fenced-in property between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes. Visitors can take a tour through the enormous complex and hopefully get an up-close look at these beautiful white deer.
A Brief History
The Seneca Army Depot, originally named The Seneca Ordnance Depot, was built in 1941 at the beginning of WWII. The Depot was the main munitions storage facility for the US Army. The Seneca Army Depot was decommissioned in 2000. The 10,600-acre facility was eventually turned over to Seneca County IDA. In 2016, 7,000 of the original 10,600 acres were sold to Deer Haven Park so that a sanctuary for the rare white deer could be established.
White Deer
The white deer at Deer Haven Park are not albino deer, for which they are often mistaken. This unusual herd of deer are normal whitetail deer that carry a recessive gene that produces an all-white coat. This genetic condition is known as leucism. If you notice their eyes, you will see that they are brown, as a regular whitetail deer’s eyes would be, rather than the red of an albino.
The fenced-in area of the Seneca Army Depot isolated and protected the small herd within the 10,600 acres. While that depot was occupied by the US Army, GIs were not permitted to shoot the white deer, and therefore their numbers grew exponentially. Deer Haven Park has the largest white deer population in the world.
Tours
Tours of the sanctuary are provided by buses or by self-driven “App Guided Tours” in your vehicle. These tours take visitors back onto the property to see the old historic buildings that are still standing and the majestic white deer.
We recently went on one of their Auto Tours, and it was fantastic. While I was excited about the opportunity to see the white deer, I was astonished by how much tangible history there is at the former Seneca Army Depot.
While you are not guaranteed to see a white deer, this is a wonderful tour for a number of reasons.
- The tablet-guided tour is very informative about the history and wildlife in the Depot and stops at numerous locations, giving fascinating information.
- This is a secure area that very few people have been able to visit until recently.
- It was almost like a giant game of I-Spy looking for the white deer and other wildlife. The white deer aren’t the only animals that call this park home -Beavers, Foxes, Coyotes, Bald eagles, Osprey, Northern harriers, Redtail hawks, and Wild Turkeys also live within the Depot fences.
- You really do get your money’s worth. The tour took us almost two hours to complete (as you drive between 5-8 miles/hour the entire time.)
The bus tours must be booked in advance but have the added bonus of stopping in places and letting visitors get out and look around.
Tips
- There are bathrooms located at the Visitor Center. I recommend utilizing them before your tour. You will be back in the Depot without access to any restrooms for at least 60-90 minutes.
- Make sure you have plenty of gas before you start your tour. (And snacks!)
- Don’t be like us and forget to bring your binoculars, they will come in very handy here!!!
- Take your time on the tour, drive slowly, and really look deep into the brush, woods, and fields, you never know what you will see here.
Gift Shop & Museum
When you are done with your tour, take a minute to explore the small museum in the Visitor Center. There are photos and more about the history of the Seneca Army Depot.
There is also a small gift shop with all sorts of unique gifts to memorialize your visit.
Hours and Admission
Auto Tours:
Tours will be held every Thursday and Saturday from May 25th to October 26th
Hours:
11am – 4pm
Closing time is the last time a vehicle can enter the park.
Admission: $35/Vehicle (up to 7 People)
Bus Tours
Fridays & Saturdays evenings
October 4th- October 26th
Fridays 12pm – 1:30pm
Saturdays 4:30-6pm
Getting to Deer Haven Park
Deer Haven Park is located on Route 96A just north of Sampson State Park.