PARK Magazine

ESCAPES
Inns of Aurora
Invest in Your Wellbeing
BY BETTY BENS
Aurora Inn
Colonel E.B.Morgan Inn Rowland House
Wallcott Hall Zabriskie House
For the ultimate enchanting
getaway where you can get
away from it all, Inns of
Aurora is the ideal spot that
boast all the pampering,
personalized care and
unparalleled views you
could want. Situated on
scenic Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes, the
charming village of Aurora, under one square
mile and designated as a National Historic
District, is made up of the five restored historic
inns with 54 total guestrooms, a gourmet
restaurant, quaint pub and unique stores.
Enjoy five-star service and accommodations in
this scenic spot, nestled in the heart of New
York’s wine region.
From eclectic to artsy to cozy, each inn has
its own personality and dedicated innkeeper.
Whichever posh property you choose, you can
enjoy wine and cheese at happy hour,
homemade granola bars and fair-trade coffee.
Built in 1833 by Colonel E.B. Morgan, a native
of Aurora who was a founding investor in The
New York Times, the colonial designed Aurora
Inn boasts ten guestrooms and suites with all
the comforts of home. It is also home to the
village’s farm-to-table restaurant, 1833 Kitchen
& Bar, where you can dig into delectable plates
on the veranda as the sun sets on the lake. With
seven spacious and stylish rooms, the E.B.
Morgan House invites visitors to relax in their
carefully designed living spaces, including a
library, cozy fireplaces for evening game night
and mahogany porches. This historic stone
mansion can also be rented out for private
stays and events.
Restored in 2014, Rowland House is a
favorite amongst returning guests – with
playful color schemes and décor, plus a third
floor comprised of four guestrooms, private
lounge and Mackenzie-Childs designs, it’s not
hard to see why. Enjoy a private dinner in the
grand dining room, with lighting resembling
the night sky. The glorious grounds greet
guests with ancient Gingko trees, a Grecian
temple and two-story boathouse. Fire pits and
Adirondack chairs also make for perfect
outdoor fall fun. With a modern boardroom,
Rowland House is the ideal spot for a mix of
indoor business meetings, outdoor team
building exercises and all-around fun.
The imposing white structure that is
Zabriskie House has an interior that is just as
impressive. Blue hues, unique accent pieces, a
double parlor and three-story grand staircase
with modern chandelier, plus rocking chairs
on the wide porch make up this most recently
redone inn. The largest of the inns with 17
guestrooms, whimsical Wallcourt Hall,
originally built in 1909 as a dormitory for Miss
Goldsmith’s School for Girls, now features
modern design and black and orange color