Preserve History

Preserve History

Hangglider view to Canandaigua Lake.	Clubhouse

Whaleback Farm Inc. is located on South Hill Road, in Middlesex Township, on the South East Side of Canandaigua Lake. This is the heart of Western New York’s famous Finger Lakes Region. Here is one of the most beautiful natural settings in the Eastern United States. Geologically created by glaciers at the end of the last ice age, South Hill rises to 2000 feet above sea level. Whaleback’s Hunting Preserve land on top of this promontory commands many superb views extending 50 miles to the East across farmland or to the West with vistas of the rolling Bristol Hills. The Farm overlooks beautiful Canandaigua Lake a quarter of a mile below, Naples Village 8 miles south in the valley, and to the north distant skyscrapers in Rochester.

Historically speaking, South Hill is reputed to have been the sight of Iroquois Indian Ceremonials at the 100 feet high waterfalls in Clark’s Gully. Now this site is public land, part of 2,000 acres on South Hill, in New York State’s 10,000 acre “Hi Tor” Game Management Area. Hi Tor is open year round for wildlife nature walking and hunting in the State seasons. The South border of Whaleback Preserve is contiguous with Hi Tor with connecting trails.

From the late 1700’s until the 1970’s, pasture for sheep created South Hill’s mainstay. Today, the original rancher’s stone wells and foundations can still be found on local Christmas tree farms and Whaleback Farm that encompasses most of the hilltop. Whaleback’s Hunting Preserve offers a magical quality in its setting so very near to the cities of Canandaigua, Corning, Geneva, Ithaca, Penn Yan, Rochester, and Syracuse; yet somehow unspoiled, as if in a time capsule from a bygone Century. The Preserve’s terrain is gently sloping and level on top with trout ponds and streams. There are also steep hills and gullies through the lake woods leading South and West which extend over 1,400 vertical feet from hilltop to lakeside. Whaleback’s Sporting Clays Course, Clubhouse, 2 trout fishing ponds, and upland bird hunting fields are relatively flat and easy walking. Areas with wild turkey, ruffed grouse, and white tail deer can challenge the experienced mountain hiker.

A significant Preserve program of habitat improvement for wildlife is ongoing in all hunting areas. This provides the best possible balance between cover and natural food supplies for game. During the summer, non-hunting season, wildlife food cover plot plantings and brush bush-hogging increases edge effect and assures upland game bird areas are superb for gun dogs and hunter. State of the art wildlife feeders supplement food for quail and pheasants, assuring high retention of stocked game birds especially in the late season.

Whaleback has a wild bird population unusual in the region, including significant sightings of field, woodland, and marsh birds. Eagles, hawks, vultures, ducks, snipe, ruffed grouse, woodcock, and wild turkey are common. Rare woodpeckers, bobolinks, indigo bunting and others too numerous to note here are sighted yearly. Our bluebird trail with nesting boxes is ever popular, as is our extensive trail system for hiking or horseback riding overlooking Canandaigua Lake. All Preserve access requires sign in at our Clubhouse and acknowledgement that you are on the property. Prior to leaving it is each leaseholder and guests responsibility to sign out.

Our Mission

Since 1972 Whaleback Farm Inc. has offered a Preserve with private land for, Angling, Camping, Sporting Clays, Hiking, Horseback Riding, Hunting, and Cross-County Skiing in season, made available to the public through a limited number (100), private leases. This concept is possible through annual lease fees from families and businesses to maintain this unique property, making Whaleback Western New York’s Premiere Private Hunting Preserve.

With the completion in 2002 of the new Clubhouse for relaxation and events and Owners Cabin with over night Lodging the Preserve is committed to providing its 100 leaseholders, their families and guests with the finest preserve upland hunting opportunities in Western, New York.

Services for dining, private functions, small business gatherings, are available in our Clubhouse and our Owner’s Cabin is perfect for 2, 4, 0r 6 for overnight at additional cost. Ancillary outdoor sporting activities such as Monthly “Member-Guest” days, fishing, tent camping, hiking, gun dog training, Sporting Clays, Wing Shooting lessons, and fly fishing lessons are all activities promoted seasonally by the Farm so as to contribute significantly to the fulfillment of our leaseholders social, recreational, and personal needs.