Location: Town of Sodus, Wayne County

Size: 627 acres

Description: This beautiful easement property contains forests, wetlands, working crop lands, and orchards. It has over 350 acres of woodlands, two creeks that feed Sodus Bay, marsh along the Bay, and rolling orchards on fields of fertile soil. The woods, fields, and wetlands of Alasa Farms provide resting areas for migrating songbirds on their journeys north to Canada and after their long flights from as far away as South America. The large wooded tracts of sugar maple, yellow birch, basswood, and hemlock found at Alasa Farms are home to forest-dwelling birds, a variety of mammals and amphibians, and a rich collection of native plants. The wooded creek corridors and the 30 acres of DEC Class II wetlands help to protect the water quality of the creeks on Alasa Farms and, subsequently, Sodus Bay.

Alasa Farms has a rich history and has been home to a Shaker community and the Fourierist Utopian Society. Beginning in the 1920s, Alvah Griffen Strong made the farm the site of agricultural advancement with modern farming equipment and techniques.

Now, Alasa Farms is home to Cracker Box Palace, a farm animal rescue and rehabilitation sanctuary. The organization cares for over 150 farm animals, using the property’s historic barns. For more information, contact Cracker Box Palace at 315-483-2493 or visit their website.

Public Access: Cracker Box Palace owns the Alasa Farms property and invites all to be part of the farm operation through its festivals, activities, tours, camps, and opportunities to care for and love the animals. Cracker Box Palace is open for visitors, by appointment. For more information, contact Cracker Box Palace at 315-483-2493 or visit their website.

Visitors are also welcomed at Alasa Farms for scheduled walks led by Genesee Land Trust. View upcoming walks here.

History: The easement was granted to Genesee Land Trust in 2011 from property owner Alasa Farms, Inc. Genesee Land Trust has acquired the development rights to ensure that the property remains as open land in perpetuity, a natural oasis for wildlife, especially migratory birds, and a working farm. Hiking trails and nature activities are also planned to be part of the future of Alasa Farms.

Download Trail Map

Getting There

Driving Directions: From Rochester, follow Route 104 East, just past the town of Alton. Turn left (north) on Route 14. Turn right at the T-intersection onto Ridge Road and take an immediate left onto Shaker Road. Cracker Box Palace at Alasa Farms is on the right, just before the intersection with Shaker Tract Road (Red Mill Road).

Approximate Address of Parking: 6450 Shaker Road, Town of Sodus, NY

GPS coordinates: 43.233729,-76.97161

What is a conservation easement?