Pruyn Sanctuary is the location of the chapter office. Restroom facilities are available during office hours. [Chapter Office]

Pruyn Sanctuary protects Gedney Swamp. The sanctuary interior features over 40 acres of red maple swamp, tussock sedge meadows and shrub swamp. Gedney Swamp is a state designated wetland.
[Trail Map]

Please remember that a sanctuary is where all life is respected. Please do not injure or remove any animals or plants from our sanctuaries.

Pruyn Sanctuary is the headquarters of Saw Mill River Audubon. The most popular sanctuary feature is a small butterfly and hummingbird garden open to the public. The best time to view butterflies and hummingbirds is warm, sunny summer days around noon. [More about the Garden]

Pruyn Sanctuary was established through the generosity of Dr. F. Morgan and Agnes Pruyn. [History]
[Pronounced Prine].

Dr. F. Morgan and Agnes K. Pruyn

Pruyn Sanctuary is a good place to enjoy hiking, birding, wildflowers and quiet views over the surrounding wetland. Dogs are permitted on leashes. Please do pick up after your dog.

Please also remember that all of our sanctuaries are closed to visitors between dusk and dawn. We are grateful for the continuing care of our sanctuary neighbors in protecting these special habitats.

For protection of the wildlife and habitats and for the enjoyment and safety of our visitors, camping, fires, biking, hunting and motorized vehicles are not permitted in any of our sanctuaries.

If you use the garden and office entrance off Route 133, please park in the gravel lot on your left as you enter. If you use the trails entrance at the end of Woodmill Road, please be careful not to block our neighbors' driveways or the sanctuary trail entrance that provides emergency access into our trail system. [Trail Map]

Spring beauty and Dogtooth violet are
among the wildflowers found at Pruyn.

Sanctuary History
Pruyn Sanctuary was first established in 1966 by Agnes K. and Dr. F. Morgan Pruyn, long-time residents of Chappaqua, through a gift of 16 acres to Saw Mill River Audubon.  Small parcels of two and four acres each were added by the Benedict and Allison families, respectively, from their nearby properties. 

In 1978, Dr. Pruyn purchased 31 acres of the valley and donated them to Saw Mill River Audubon. Agnes Pruyn passed away in April, 1975 and Morgan Pruyn continue to maintain and improve their land adjoining the sanctuary and take an active role in supporting Saw Mill River Audubon until his death in May, 1988. 

From the Pruyns, Saw Mill River Audubon received a bequest of the remaining acreage of their property and their residence, which now houses the office of Saw Mill River Audubon.  Pruyn Sanctuary, originally Gedney Brook Sanctuary, was renamed in honor of the Pruyns in April 1990. 

An additional 14 acres, the Crystal Spring parcel, was added to the sanctuary in 1997 as a donation from Alok Aggarwal, a local developer.  Nestlé was a previous owner of this property during the 60s when spring water was piped and bottled from this area.

Road Directions

The garden and office entrance to Pruyn Sanctuary is located at 275 Millwood Road about 1.5 miles east of Millwood. Millwood Road is New York Route 133.

The garden and office entrance is a driveway off Route 133. Coming from Millwood, the driveway is after Bradley Farm Road and before Joan Drive and Woodmill Road. It is marked with a sanctuary sign (see below).

At this entrance, please park in the gravel lot immediately on your left as you enter the driveway.

From the Taconic Parkway, take the Route 133 Millwood Exit. Follow Route 133 East (toward Mount Kisco) through the hamlet of Millwood, and continue for approximately 1.5 miles east of Millwood.  Pass the Town of New Castle's Gedney Park on the right. At the intersection of Route 133 and Route 120, bear left, continuing on Route 133 East. 

The office/garden entrance is approximately one half mile east of the intersection of Route 133 & Route 120.

The Woodmill Road trails entrance is at the end of Woodmill Road off Route 133, Millwood Road, a quarter mile east of the office/garden entrance and the first right hand turn after the Route 133 & Route 120 intersection. [Trail Map]

The sanctuary trails entrance is on the right at the end of Woodmill Road BEFORE Woodmill Road continues uphill into a private driveway.  Please park carefully along Woodmill Road being careful not to block neighboring driveways and the sanctuary trail entrance.  

All of our sanctuaries are open to visitors free of charge, seven days a week, dawn to dusk. Please contact our office if you want to bring a group to one of our sanctuaries.
[Contact office]

Pruyn Sanctuary is often visited by school and community groups. With advance notice, we may be able to provide your group with a guided tour. Even if your group wishes to visit without a guide, please contact us in advance. For the best possible experience for your group, we want to ensure that your visit does not coincide with another group's visit. [More About Sanctuary Tours]

Our sanctuaries are maintained by a part-time caretaker and volunteers on trail maintenance days. A group of volunteer "Trail Walkers" monitors individual sanctuaries and reports on their conditions.[More About Trail Walkers]

Online Maps for Sanctuaries with Walking Trails

[Brinton Brook Sanctuary] [Choate Sanctuary] [Graff Sanctuary]
[Haas Sanctuary] [Pinecliff Sanctuary] [Pruyn Sanctuary]

We also invite you to consider joining us as a member.

You can join Audubon online today
and be billed later for membership.