The owners of a well-known Finger Lakes winery are putting up a large challenge grant to help a project get off the ground in Seneca County. It centers around the rare white deer in that area.
As John Ingle puts it, “This is a great opportunity to make a statement about what we do here in the Finger Lakes,” and that’s why he and his wife Josephine, the owners of Heron Hill Winery are offering a $200,000 challenge grant.
They are asking the public to match the grant by the end of January, with the money to go toward an effort to preserve the white deer on the land that was formerly the Seneca Army Depot.
“I feel like it’s a great opportunity for my wife and I to stand up and be counted as people that really believe in not just the Finger Lakes, but also the white deer and the tourism that I’m positive they will generate.”
A not-for-profit group plans to bid on the purchase of several thousand acres of the former depot, to create the "Seneca White Deer Park."
John Ingle says the park would be a great tourist destination and could also offer trails and other opportunities.
“(It would) be a place where the physically and mobility challenged people that are in our society and the wounded warriors, the veterans, the people that could really use an extra boost would enjoy going out to the Seneca White Deer Park.”
Seneca County officials are hoping to get bids in for the land early next year.
