Town
Where to Stay in Bluff Point
Bluff Point is the narrow ridge that splits Keuka Lake into its Y shape. Esperanza Mansion, a Greek Revival house built in 1838, sits high on the bluff, with views down both arms of the lake, and its 29 rooms are split between the mansion and a newer inn. Penn Yan, at the tip of the eastern arm, is about 10 minutes north, and Hammondsport, at the lake's southern tip, is about 30 minutes south. Keuka Lake's wineries line both shores, and Pleasant Valley Wine Company in Hammondsport, founded in 1860, was the first winery in the country to receive a federal bonded winery license.
Why Stay in Bluff Point
- •Esperanza Mansion sits on the bluff above Keuka Lake, with views down both arms of the Y-shaped lake.
- •The Keuka Lake Wine Trail runs along both shores below the bluff and is compact enough to cover in a day.
- •Penn Yan, about 10 minutes north, has restaurants and the lakefront.
What Makes This Area Interesting
- •Keuka Lake Wine Trail: wineries on both east and west shores of Keuka Lake; the trail is compact enough to cover in one full day.
- •Pleasant Valley Wine Company: Hammondsport; founded in 1860, the first winery in the country with a federal bonded winery license; tours and tastings.
- •Glenn H. Curtiss Museum: Hammondsport; aviation and early motorcycle history in a 57,000-square-foot museum.
- •Penn Yan: about 10 minutes north; the main town at the north end of Keuka Lake, with shops and restaurants.
Frequently Asked
Summer for the lake. The fall harvest, in September and October, is the wine trail's busiest season, with events at many wineries, and the views from the bluff are at their most colorful in October.
About 5 hours from the George Washington Bridge via I-87 to I-90 West and Route 14 south along Seneca Lake, then west to Keuka. From Rochester, about 1 hour via Routes 5&20 and Route 54A.
Keuka is shaped like a Y, unlike the other Finger Lakes, and it is smaller than Seneca or Cayuga. Its wine trail is more compact, and its villages, Hammondsport and Penn Yan, are smaller and quieter than the towns on the larger lakes.