New York's Former Navy And Air Force Base Is Now A 2,000-Acre Finger Lakes Escape With A Beach

In Upstate New York, the Finger Lakes region is famous for its diverse hiking trails, lakeside viticulture, and endless outdoor activities. The region also holds some significant American history. Just 20 minutes away from Seneca Falls, a town that offers a historic look at the Women's Rights Movement in the United States, is Sampson State Park. This former Navy and Air Force base is now a flourishing recreational center for swimming, hiking, and camping.

Sampson State Park, established in 1942, served as a crucial naval training base during World War II. After the war, it served briefly as a college for returning veterans until the early 1950s, when it was converted into an Air Force training base during the Korean War. Altogether, some 750,000 sailors and airmen were trained at Sampson before it officially became a state park in the 1960s.

Despite several buildings being dismantled to promote natural growth, glimpses of Sampson State Park's history still appear throughout its hiking trails, swimming areas, and campsites, including the Sampson Military Museum. The 2,000-acre park is located in Romulus, New York, on the east shore of Seneca Lake, the Finger Lakes region's largest lake by volume and second largest by length, at 38 miles long. Sampson State Park is around an hour's drive from both Rochester and Syracuse, making it an easy stop in between the two cities.

The park is open year-round from sunrise to sunset, but activities vary by season, with summer being the busiest time of year. With the swimming area open from late June to Labor Day, visitors flock to the park's sandy beach to cool off in Seneca Lake or relax along the shoreline. At the nearby Seneca Lake Resorts, you can rent a pontoon boat at their marina and enjoy a half- or full-day of fishing and swimming.

Back on shore, Sampson State Park is home to one of the only lakeside hiking trails in the entire Finger Lakes Region. You can walk along the water's edge or rent a bike from the park office and coast along the 3.5-mile Lake Trail for beautiful views of changing leaves in the fall and budding flowers in the spring. Along the way, you'll find informational plaques with QR codes that you can scan to learn about the area's history and interesting facts. You can also explore the base's history at the Sampson Military Museum and take pictures with two U.S. Air Force aircrafts displayed out front.

The Finger Lakes is known for having New York's largest and most active wine trail, and Sampson State Park sits right in the middle of the Seneca Wine Trail, with many local vineyards and shops where you can try amazing wine. Just 15 minutes away is Boundary Breaks, a low-key winery specializing in Riesling and Cabernet Franc. But the area isn't just for adults: kids can have just as much fun at the park's waterfront playground, volleyball and basketball courts, as well as at Seneca Lake Resort's mini golf course and free movie nights.

One of the best ways to properly explore the Finger Lakes region, home to some of New York's most breathtaking state parks, is to stay longer than a day. From mid-May to mid-October, Sampson State Park's 243 electric campsites and 10 lakefront cottages are available for visitors. Campsites start at $17 per night, while cottages start at $300 per night with a two night minimum. Seneca Lake Resorts also has 39 cabins that accommodate up to eight people, each with a kitchenette, full bathroom, and air conditioning, from $225 per night.

For those who prefer a more upscale stay, the surrounding area offers plenty of unique hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and resorts near the park. Under 10 minutes away from Sampson State Park, you can stay in a luxury yurt with a full living room at Yale Manor for $230 a night. Another option is Belhurst Castle and Winery, a historic hotel overlooking Seneca Lake with local wine tastings and two on-site restaurants, 20 minutes from the park in Geneva, New York.