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Romulus, New York: Ghost Deer and Atom Bombs

RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report

Deer Haven Park

Address:
5537 NY Route 96A, Romulus, NY
Directions:
Deer Haven Park. From US Hwy 20, about a mile east of Geneva, turn south at the stoplight onto Hwy 96A. Drive south 9.5 miles. You'll see the Welcome Center on the left, on the far side of the fence. Turn left to enter the old Seneca Army Depot. Tours leave from the Welcome Center.
Hours:
April-Oct., Th-Sa 9-dusk. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
315-759-8220
Admission:
Adults $35.
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
Save to My Sights

Seneca White Deer.

Ghost Deer and Atom Bombs

The world's largest known population of ghostly white deer have lived and bred inside a former off-limits Army Depot, undisturbed for 70 years. Their only neighbors were nuclear weapons.

Roadsideamerica.com Report... [01/07/2018]

Visitor Tips and News About Ghost Deer and Atom Bombs

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Seneca White Deer.

Ghost Deer and Atom Bombs

Highly recommend the bus tour! It was very informative and covered many areas of the now closed Army depot. The tour included a look inside a munitions igloo, a close look at a personnel bunker, even going on a short walk to see a beaver dam.

The tour runs early evening to catch views of the active deer -- of which there were many seen.

[Luv2RV, 10/05/2023]
White Deer

These deer are not from Canada, or nuclear mutants, or albino. Back in the fifties, the head of the army at Seneca Depot saw a few white deer there and ordered that they never be shot. Hence the normal colored deer were culled instead, resulting in more white deer than bred white deer. Pretty simple, not very mysterious.

[Dave, 03/05/2016]

White deer.

Herd of Real White Deer

They're still there, but Army has sold the land to several entities and hunting is now allowed on the land to winners of local hunting lottery, so herd of albino deer is thinning.

Be careful parking along busy highway and may require some patience and driving up and down the road until you see a patch of white fur in the brush beyond the fence.

[Hal Clarke, 09/21/2012]

White deer.

Herd Of White Deer

Driving up the west side of the old army depot on route 96, to our surprise we spotted two white deer, approximately 50 yards from the road.

[Julie Barnes, 09/10/2011]

Nearby Offbeat Places

Mike Weaver Drain Tile MuseumMike Weaver Drain Tile Museum, Geneva, NY - 7 mi.
Scythe StumpScythe Stump, Waterloo, NY - 10 mi.
Birthplace of Memorial DayBirthplace of Memorial Day, Waterloo, NY - 10 mi.
In the region:
Big Electric Plug, Elmira, NY - 46 mi.

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