Grayhaven is nestled between Robert H. Treman State Park, Buttermilk Falls State Park, and Sweedler Thayer Preserves at Lick Brook. Encompassing roughly 11-acres, our mid-century Motel sits elevated on the front two acres, while the back 9-acres remain a diverse and flourishing ecosystem of forest and wetland. Our trail system boasts excellent examples of native central NY plants and wildlife. 

Animals you are likely to see when walking the trails: loads of native and migratory birds, muskrat, beaver, chipmunks, squirrel, deer, frogs, turtles, snakes, skunk, fox, opossum, raccoon. You are also likely to see some stunner northeastern trees, several fern varieties, horsetails & cattails. Watch out for poison ivy! For fun, here’s a check list of amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals of New York State – if you feel like keeping track. 

Wildlife mostly keeps to the back 9-acres, but occasionally at the Motel you’ll find a toad out for an evening stroll, a chipmunk scurrying across the yard, an errant grasshopper or cricket trying to make their way in your entryway, or a snake sunning itself in the driveway. They were here first after all.

Fly anglers will find direct access to the Cayuga Inlet from our property. The inlet flows through the City of Ithaca at the southern tip of the lake and gets runs of rainbows in the 2-pound to 8-pound size range, as well as landlocked salmon that can weigh up to 10 pounds. It also gets a nice run of brown trout in the fall. Cayuga Inlet averages less than 50 feet in width.

Hunting is open at Sweedler and Thayer Preserves (bow only) and Connecticut Hill Wildlife Management Area beginning Oct. 1. See the DEC website for information related to hunting in New York State.