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 mystical 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 self-driven “App Guided Tours” in your own vehicle. These tours take visitors back onto the property to see the old historic buildings which still standing and see the majestic white deer.
While driving, visitors will also have the opportunity to catch a glimpse of white deer and bald eagles that live within the park. The total tour takes approximately 60-90 minutes. This is a self-guided tour, and Deer Haven Park provides a free phone app that can be downloaded to guide you through the park.
Hours and Admission
Auto Tours:
Tours will be held every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, from May 25th to October 28th
Hours:
May 25th – August 19: 11 am – 6:30 pm
August 24 – September 9th: 11 am – 5:50 pm
September 14th – September 29th: 11 am – 5:20 pm
October 5th: 11 am – 4:50 pm
October 12th – October 28th: 11 am -4:20 pm
Closing time is the last time a vehicle can enter the park.
Admission: $35/Vehicle (up to 7 People)
Bus Tours
Thursdays & Saturdays evenings
April 27th – May 18th: 6:30 pm – 8 pm
May 25th – August 19th: 6:45 – 8:15 pm
August 24th – September 9th: 6 pm-7:30 pm
September 14th -September 28th: 5:30 pm – 7 pm
October 5th: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm
October 12th – October 28th: 4:30 pm -6 pm
Getting to Deer Haven Park
Deer Haven Park is located on Route 96A just north of Sampson State Park.