PLACES TO EXPLORE

Acreage: 40
Address: 239 Center Road, Lacona, NY 13083

Trail Loop/ Stretch surface and slope info:Trails are marked, with a map and additional details coming soon

What you can do there:Hiking, bird watching/wildlife viewing, environmental education programs, dog walking (on leash), snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, kayaking/canoeing, and fishing

Site use guidelines:

• Stay on Marked Trails
• Trails are for non-motorized day use only.
• If you carry it in, carry it out.
• Take only pictures. Leave what you find.
• Respect wildlife. Keep your distance. Never feed wild animals.
• Leashed dogs are welcome. Please bag waste and take home for disposal.
• No camping, fireworks, alcohol, or drugs are allowed.
• No unauthorized hunting or firearms are allowed

Habitat:The property is entirely forested and situated along Little Sandy Creek, which provides important habitat for trout and other aquatic wildlife. The mature forest also supports a variety of native plants and wildlife, including spotted salamanders, while helping protect the creek’s water quality and surrounding watershed. No rare, threatened, or endangered species are currently known to occur on the property.

History:Dimon and Rhoda Benson purchased this property in December 1964 after years of visiting the area for picnics and outdoor recreation. Over the years, the land became a cherished family retreat where family members fished Little Sandy Creek, walked the property, planted trees, and enjoyed the changing seasons.

The Bensons developed the property with a light footprint. A modest cabin was built, trails were established, and spruce seedlings were planted, while much of the surrounding forest was left to grow naturally. The property remained a place for family recreation and connection to the land for decades.

Years later, William and Mabry Benson donated the property to Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust, ensuring its forests, creek, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities would be protected for future generations. Funding support from the Central New York Community Foundation helped make the permanent conservation of the 40-acre property possible. Support from the Shineman Foundation will help foster education, stewardship, and collaboration with surrounding communities as the preserve continues to evolve.