Deer Haven Park
Deer Haven Park
5
11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
Deer Haven Park is in the Finger Lakes Region of Upstate New York. It occupies a portion of the former Seneca Army Depot, a US Military munitions storage facility built in 1941. For over 75 years, the Seneca Army Depot was closed to the public. Today, Deer Haven Park is offering a glimpse into its Mysterious past and a chance to see the unique wildlife that resides within its fences, from wild turkeys, beavers, and American Bald Eagles to the Majestic Seneca white deer! Bus Tours are back! Take a 90-minute tour aboard our climate-controlled bus. You’ll go inside one of 519 munition storage igloos and explore other features of the park. Reservations are required for bus tours. Not ready for a bus tour just yet? Take an Auto Tour instead and experience the 8-mile drive through the park from the comfort of your own vehicle! We will provide a tablet to act as your virtual tour guide. Auto tours take between 60-90 minutes. Park entrance fees apply. Visit deerhavenpark.org for more details
Duration: 1-2 hours
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542 reviews
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T N
1 contribution
Oct 2021
The trip was well organized, however a little crowded. They asked everyone to wear a mask as we were sitting quite close to each other. There were two wagons and the people sitting in the front wagon saw more than the back wagon as the deer moved on by the time our wagon made it to the area. They did not stop but once to take pictures which was a disappointment. Many would have liked pictures of the scenery and fields. The ride was a bit long with no restrooms or port~a-potty available. There were many complaints on our wagon as many were elderly. The narrator was very well educated in the deer park history and about the white deer and provided a good story. Finally the cost was a little high for the ride especially for seniors (it was discounted). We did not see any white deer from the second wagon, except a couple running a distance away.
Written October 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the kind words regarding our Annual Fall Wagon Tour.
The safety of our guests and park employees is our highest priority, and the reason why we cut our wagon capacity by 30% and required the use of face coverings on the tour.
This Annual event is a special tour that is focused on the unique open-air ride experience through the former Seneca Army Depot and the history of the Depot and property. As the guide announced at the beginning of the tour, the expectation to see any deer on that tour is very low, since the deer can smell the open wagons of people and hear the loud PA system used to allow all guests to hear the narrative, long before we are close enough to see them. Because of these reasons, any sighting of deer is always a surprise bonus. If you took the Wagon Tour with the expectation that it was a white deer tour, I apologize. We focused all advertising on the military and historic side of Deer Haven Park. We will review and try to be more clear next year.
I slowed the wagons to 3-4mph when we were near the historic buildings and points of interest, but we were unable to come to a complete stop each time as there was much to see and we wanted to keep the event under 2 hours.
Thank you for participating in our Annual Fall Wagon Tour and for taking the time to share your experience with others. -Truman
Written November 1, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Emily M
White Plains, NY133 contributions
Sep 2020
We had a really unfortunate time here, despite all the other high reviews. Maybe the experience is very different now that they're having us tour ourselves, or maybe we did something wrong. We drove around for ~2 hours at 5mph mostly in silence (because the app wasn't working), searching desperately for any sign of wildlife that wasn't bugs. It got to the point where our eyes started tricking us that certain reflections or shapes in the woods might be deer. We ended up seeing one brown deer right at the end of the tour.
I'm sure the deer are quite happy and well cared for here, and I knew there was a chance we wouldn't see them, as it was mid-day on a sunny, warm day. This isn't like a zoo. The deer are free, so they're free to hide. I don't think this is a fault with the place, as I'm glad the deer have so much space. It looked like deer paradise. But it didn't really feel like a place for visitors.
To try to avoid our experience, I'd suggest going on a cooler day, maybe earlier or later in the day (when deer are more active). Really make sure the app is working ahead of time and disable other notifications, as on our phone notifications cut the audio short.
I'm sure the deer are quite happy and well cared for here, and I knew there was a chance we wouldn't see them, as it was mid-day on a sunny, warm day. This isn't like a zoo. The deer are free, so they're free to hide. I don't think this is a fault with the place, as I'm glad the deer have so much space. It looked like deer paradise. But it didn't really feel like a place for visitors.
To try to avoid our experience, I'd suggest going on a cooler day, maybe earlier or later in the day (when deer are more active). Really make sure the app is working ahead of time and disable other notifications, as on our phone notifications cut the audio short.
Written September 9, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your honest and in-depth review of your recent experience at Deer Haven Park. I am sorry it was a disappointment. No, I do not believe you did anything “wrong”.
The Auto-Tours were a direct response to the temporary sidelining of our bus tours due the current situation of the world. The experience they offer is different than the bus tour, in that it feels like more of an adventure, exploring the park at your own pace and seemingly by yourself. There are many advantages to this type of tour, however the one main disadvantage is that you are committed to the tour route that is laid out before you, and are unable to “go find” the white deer when they are not active along the course. The points you make about the wildlife being free to roam and being affected by the heat of the day are spot-on. Your suggestions about arriving earlier or later in the day, or when it is cooler out are also great advice.
The Auto Tour was designed to be experienced with the Deer Haven Park Tour App as its companion to round out the experience, especially at times when the white deer do not want to cooperate. The app provides the backdrop for the tour and outlines the rich history of the former Seneca Army Depot, as well as explaining the origins of the white deer and some of the other amazing wildlife at Deer Haven Park. As you mention, we strongly urge all our visitors to ensure that the app is functioning while at the visitor center and in sync with their vehicle’s audio system before beginning the tour. I am sorry much of your tour was in silence due to notifications and interruptions on your device. The app really does make the journey worthwhile, even when the white deer make themselves scarce.
Please feel free to reach out to me personally through our website to further discuss your experience.
Again, thank you for taking the time to offer your candid review. I hope you will return when we open our bus tours again. - Truman
Written September 10, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alvin Massy
New York City, NY3 contributions
Sep 2020 • Couples
So this review is bitter sweet.
We did not see any of the white deer BUT we were totall blown away by the customer service that was showed to us by Truman Bells.
He was so accomodating and always trying make our experience work as much as possible. He went above and beyond my/our expectations
I am definitely returning again when I get a chance and hopefully I can see the white deer next time.
We did not see any of the white deer BUT we were totall blown away by the customer service that was showed to us by Truman Bells.
He was so accomodating and always trying make our experience work as much as possible. He went above and beyond my/our expectations
I am definitely returning again when I get a chance and hopefully I can see the white deer next time.
Written October 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your kindness. It was a pleasure to meet and serve both you and your wife on your private tour. Unfortunately, the strong winds and Mother Nature seemed to be working against us that morning. I would love to have you back for another go at it! Just give me a call when you are ready to return and we will develop a plan to provide the best opportunity for seeing the majestic white deer. I look forward to your next visit! - Truman
Written October 23, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
jeguarnere
1 contribution
Dec 2019 • Friends
I found the history of the town-size former military installation as interesting as the present day white deer. Our guide was excellent, filled with a good balance of vignettes about deer, the other wildlife (we saw a bald eagle), and the military. This was my second tour which, you could say, is putting my money where my mouth is;-)
Richard S Gardner, Rochester, NY
Richard S Gardner, Rochester, NY
Written January 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SophiesMom4
Groton, NY65 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
Very interesting blend of history and nature. The majority of the tour showed the remains of the Seneca Army Depot - once a large and bustling military installation housing a cache of munitions during and after World War II. After the military moved out, the area went back to the wild, so only the remnant can now be seen. But, the history here is very rich, and the tour guides do a wonderful job of detailing that history. The big draw now is the white deer herd that roams free on the property. As with all deer, they are somewhat elusive, so we didn't see a large number, though it was special to see even those few. I would recommend taking a tour of the area, though I believe the tours were discontinued at the end of December 2019.
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
superfry
West New York, NJ3 contributions
Oct 2020
I really wanted to enjoy this experience but it's hard not to be disappointed when you don't really get to see what you came here to see (even with fair warning that I might not see any!). I suppose we were lucky to at least catch a glimpse of the magical creatures. We saw 2 from maybe 500 ft away and one dashed across the road in front of us for a split second. The automated tour of the facility was cool, but was it all worth the long drive to get here and then 2 hours of 5mph driving? Maybe. On a Saturday where every state park in the region was over capacity, it was a nice calm experience for the family. Easily would have given this a 4-5 if luck were more on our side. Staff was very friendly!
Written October 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the kind words and for taking time to write about your experience at Deer Haven Park. I am sorry you were disappointed with the number and quality of white deer sightings but am happy to know we were able to provide a nice calm experience for you and your family. -Truman
Written October 14, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
KCooke2014
Germantown, NY1 contribution
Oct 2020 • Couples
It’s not easy seeing these magical creatures. They’re shy, the park is comprised of somewhat dense undergrowth and you’re looking for 70-75 white deer in 3000 acres. That said, when you do see one fairly close it’s like seeing a unicorn. We saw a pure white buck from about 20 yards away—he was beautiful!
It’s not a zoo and there are no guarantees you’ll see one which only makes it that much more special. The deer are like apparitions...you think—did I just see that?
It’s not a zoo and there are no guarantees you’ll see one which only makes it that much more special. The deer are like apparitions...you think—did I just see that?
Written October 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to provide an informative review of your visit to Deer Haven Park. I am so happy that you were able to see an amazing white buck in the wild. They truly are majestic and magical, and I can confirm, Yes - you really did see that! Thanks again for your review and helping others know what to expect on their visit to Deer Haven Park. I look forward to having you back for another opportunity to see these amazing creatures in their own element. -Truman
Written October 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
tmoonk
tmoonk22 contributions
Oct 2022
We really enjoyed the bus tour through Deer Haven Park. The driver was very informative about the history of the depot and the deer. It's nice to hear how the deer are honored and continue to be protected. We had adults only on our bus and I think young children might be a little bored.
Written October 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan M
Tonawanda, NY5 contributions
Jul 2021
The guide and the driver were both very knowledgeable and very pleasant. They took us to the places they knew the deer were and we were not disappointed. Drive the tour by ourselves we would not have received the information or photo opts that we had with them. Well worth the stop if you are in the area. My only suggestion is go as late as possible for the most activity.
Written July 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for the kind words. Deer Haven Park is very fortunate to have a talented and dedicated group of tour guides and drivers, whose knowledge and passion for the park only enhances the tour experience. Great suggestion about when to tour! We have scheduled our bus tours in the mornings before the heat of the day sets in and early evening, so that the tour ends shortly before sunset, when the deer are most active. We currently run a limited schedule, but look for more morning and evening tours as we add additional tours! Thank you for taking the time to review your experiences on your Deer Haven Park Bus Tour. - Truman
Written July 26, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
258patrician
10 contributions
Oct 2023 • Family
We took the last bus tour of the season on Sat, 10/28. It was a cool, but beautiful day and the tour was wonderful! There is also a self-guided tour, but we decided to take the bus so we could relax and have a guide in case we had questions along the way. The bus driver did a great job and the guide was very well-informed and welcomed our questions. He was gracious and accommodating and a lot of fun. We highly recommend this tour. We've lived in the general area (within an hour's drive) all our lives and were shocked to hear the history of this area during and after WWII. We saw quite a few white deer, a couple in the open but most lurking behind the tree lines. There were also a lot of "brownies" (regular brown deer) along the way. This tour gives you an in-depth history lesson along with lots of opportunities to view wildlife in their natural settings. A BIG thank you to the people who operate and maintain this venue and, of course, the terrific tour guides!
Written November 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for not only your kind words, but for your heartfelt enjoyment of all that is Deer Haven Park! This is why we do what we do, and why we wish to share this incomparable experience with its vast land and military history along with all the unique wildlife and their individual fascinating and educational backgrounds with everyone. We hope you will come back to see us again, and perhaps join us for one of our upcoming specialty tours (more info on these at deerhavenpark.org). We thank YOU for your support, without of which we could not do what we do. :-)
Written November 6, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Can you buy tickets the same day without a printer available? We would like to go on the tour just are not sure when we will be able to go when we are up in the Finger Lakes.
Written August 29, 2018
Yes, we usually have room for walk-ins if you arrive a few minutes before the tours start. You can check on our website (senecawhitedeer) to see the times we are giving tours and if any of them are sold out. You can also book reservations online up until a hour before the tour. Hope to see you there soon!
Written August 30, 2018
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