Historic Inns of the Finger Lakes

Aurora · Inn

Five restored 19th-century buildings on the east shore of Cayuga Lake in Aurora, bought and renovated by Pleasant Rowland, founder of American Girl, starting in 2001. More than 60 rooms are spread across the Aurora Inn, E.B. Morgan House, Rowland House, Wallcourt Hall, Zabriskie House and Orchard Cottage, each with its own room layouts. Aurora is a small village, where Wells College operated until 2024, and sees less traffic than the Seneca Lake wine corridor.

Five historic buildings and 60+ rooms, restored by Pleasant Rowland. On Cayuga Lake's east shore, away from the busier Seneca wine trail.

Geneva · Resort

A Romanesque Revival castle on Seneca Lake in Geneva, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Guests choose between the historic Castle, a newer inn building and private cottages. Edgar's Restaurant is in the Castle and Stonecutter's Tavern serves casual meals. The estate makes its own wine, plus beer and hard cider under the Mabel's label, and the Isabella Spa-Salon offers treatments.

A Romanesque Revival castle on Seneca Lake, listed on the National Register, with its own winery and brewery. Rooms in the Castle, a newer inn and cottages.

Ithaca · B&B

An 1880 Chateauesque mansion in Ithaca designed by William Henry Miller, the first architecture student to graduate from Cornell, who went on to design several of the university's buildings. The B&B has 9 rooms with carved chestnut woodwork, stained glass and fireplaces. Breakfast is made daily with local ingredients. It sits at the edge of downtown, a short walk from the Commons.

Designed in 1880 by William Henry Miller, Cornell's first architecture graduate. Nine rooms with carved chestnut and stained glass. A short walk to Ithaca Commons.

Bluff Point · Inn

Built in 1838 by John Nicholas Rose as a wedding gift for his bride, a 2.5-story Greek Revival mansion with four Ionic columns and 6,000 square feet on a bluff overlooking Keuka Lake. The property later operated as Chateau Esperanza Winery (1979), and reopened as lodging in 2003 as The Mansion at Keuka Lake. Twenty-nine rooms are split between the historic mansion (8 rooms) and a newer inn building (21 rooms).

Watkins Glen · B&B

An 1892 Victorian mansion on 2.5 acres overlooking Seneca Lake in Watkins Glen. Fifteen rooms, including a turret room, plus sunrooms and a grand staircase. Breakfast is included and uses seasonal local ingredients. Downtown, the Watkins Glen State Park gorge trail and Watkins Glen International are all a short walk. EV charging on site.

Ithaca · Inn

A 10-room inn in Ithaca's former Mayor's Mansion, which later served as the headquarters of Duncan Hines before standing vacant. Avi Smith spent four years restoring it and opened the Argos Inn in 2013, with LEED certification, geothermal heating and heated stone floors. Original works by Dalí and Miró hang alongside locally commissioned art. Bar Argos has a zinc bar and a patio hung with Moroccan lanterns.

Fayetteville · Inn

A 90-room hotel and conference center in Fayetteville, east of Syracuse, with every room furnished with pieces from Stickley, the Arts and Crafts furniture maker based in upstate New York. The Wood Grille and Tap House cooks over a 96-inch grill fired with maple from a local farm. Breakfast is included, and Green Lakes State Park is nearby.

Ithaca · Hotel

A 153-room teaching hotel on the Cornell campus in Ithaca, run with Cornell's School of Hotel Administration since the 1950s. More than 300 students work alongside the professional staff each year. TavernaBanfi is the main restaurant, with The Regent Lounge, in-room dining and a student-run restaurant as well. Renovated in 2010. Ithaca's gorges are close by.

Ithaca · Inn

The former Rose Inn in Groton, rebuilt as the John Joseph Inn and Elizabeth Restaurant after a 2004 fire destroyed the original 1851 Italianate mansion. Chef-owner John Hamilton reopened in 2006 with 6 guest rooms and a restaurant that draws from local farms and changes its menu with the seasons. The mahogany spiral staircase, built by carpenter William Houser in 1922–24, partly survived the fire and was restored. The property sits on 10 acres, 20 miles from Ithaca.

Watkins Glen · Lodge

Operating since 1948 on Route 419 above Watkins Glen, Seneca Lodge has more than 80 units, including A-frame cabins, motel rooms and chalets, spread through woods 5 minutes from the state park gorge entrance. The tavern walls display laurel wreaths from Watkins Glen Grand Prix winners going back decades. There is an Adirondack-style restaurant on site. Race weekends book up early.

Trumansburg · Inn

A Victorian inn inside Taughannock Falls State Park, overlooking Cayuga Lake and the trail to Taughannock Falls, a single drop of 215 feet. The inn's restaurant serves non-guests as well as overnight visitors. Trails and gorge views surround the property, and Ithaca is about 10 miles south. It is open year-round.