Earl’s done that and that’s my kind of people,’’ said Money, who noted Martin’s six-figure investment into habitat work that is critical to the white deer’s survival through harsh winters. “I like people who not only talk the talk but walk the walk. It ultimately took Martin’s purchase and Money’s perseverance to make Deer Haven Park a reality. There were years of exhaustive debate among political leaders and citizens about the best usage of depot land and buildings not already being utilized by businesses, fire, police and social service agencies.īut sold-out tours in 20 conducted by SWD showcased the potential of ecotourism. Its mission: save the white deer while promoting the economic potential of the depot as a tourist attraction. It was Money and a small group of conservationists who formed Seneca White Deer, Inc., in 1998 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. These are wild animals,’’ said SWD President Dennis Money when the first white deer was spotted on a recent tour for media and Finger Lakes winery and bed and breakfast owners. “As you can tell, this isn’t a petting zoo. When the gates swing open to the 2,800 acres SWD leases from Martin for Deer Haven Park, more than 70 years of wildlife and military secrets are revealed. Tours begin at the John and Josephine Ingle Welcome Center, built entirely with donations that came in from around the world and is owned by Seneca White Deer.Īfter learning about the wildlife and military history of the depot from various displays and possibly purchasing a mug or T-shirt, visitors board a 25-passenger tour bus that runs every two hours between 8 a.m. More than 2,300 people had taken a tour through the first five months of operations, according to Seneca White Deer. The eco-tourism destination features a spacious $255,000 welcome center on Route 96A and began offering a regular schedule of tours last November that have attracted a steady stream of nature lovers and history buffs. Not only has his grandson purchased the remaining 7,000 acres of depot land in a complicated, two-year real estate transaction that became final in early May, Earl Martin - in partnership with Seneca White Deer Inc. - has become a major player in the Finger Lakes tourism industry with the opening of Deer Haven Park. Grandpa Martin’s gut feeling was correct all right. “That was 30 years ago, and it’s come full circle.’’ “We drove past the depot and saw the white deer and all that land and he made the prediction, ‘You know what? I have a feeling that someday you guys will own that depot,'" Earl Martin recalled. His late grandfather, Christian Martin, was visiting from Pennsylvania and they were hoping to catch a glimpse of the mystical white deer that lived inside the 24 miles of fencing that encircled the Army’s massive munitions installation built in 1941 at the start of World War II. ROMULUS – Earl Martin was around 9 years old when he took a ride past the Seneca Army Depot with his family. Watch Video: Deer Haven Park, home of the Seneca White Deer
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