Aurora, N.Y.—The Inns of Aurora will open Zabriskie House—the fifth of its boutique hotels in the Village of Aurora on Cayuga Lake—this October following an extensive restoration and renovation. A grand Georgian Revival mansion, Zabriskie House was built in 1904 as a home for Robert Lansing Zabriskie, one of Aurora’s most prominent benefactors. The Zabriskie family’s patronage was vital in the growth of Wells College, which has been a mainstay of the Aurora community for over a century.
Gail Zabriskie Wilson and Aubin Zabriskie Ames spent their childhood summers in their grandfather Robert’s home. “It was a warm and welcoming place to be, a beautiful spot, not only within the house but the views also. It was very peaceful and still is,” comments Aubin. Her sister Gail continues: “These houses are big and they’re difficult for a family to keep up nowadays. We’re really grateful that the Inns of Aurora are doing this. We hope the guests who come here will love it as much as we have over the years. It means a lot to our family.”
Zabriskie House features two elegant parlors, a library, and a dining room for private events—each with restored and working fireplaces, original paneling, and carefully preserved architectural details. The centerpiece of the house is its grand three-story staircase, completely restored and extended an additional floor by a team of local carpenters.
As is the case in the other Inns of Aurora, designer finishes and original, modern art complement the high-tech amenities in each of Zabriskie House’s 11 luxurious guestrooms—including high-speed wireless internet, bedside charging ports, and televisions with streaming service from guests’ smart devices. The private baths adjoining each guestroom are complete with heated marble floors, spa-quality amenities, and plush robes.
Beyond its preserved architectural details, Zabriskie House has also been upgraded to a high standard of environmental sustainability, in keeping with the Inns of Aurora’s mission to act as a responsible steward of the local landscape. These upgrades include a state-of-the-art geothermal heating and cooling system, Dark Sky Compliant outdoor lighting, high-grade, energy-efficient insulation, and remediation for rainwater runoff.
The public is invited to an open house at Zabriskie House on Thursday, October 3, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. From October 6 through October 31, the Inns of Aurora is hosting a free 45-minute tour of the first floor of Zabriskie House daily at 12:30 p.m. On weekdays, this tour is designed to immediately follow the Inns of Aurora’s standing property tour departing from the Schoolhouse activities center at 11:00 a.m. Zabriskie House is located at 418 Main Street, Aurora, NY 13026.
Restoration of the property commenced in 2018 under the stewardship of philanthropist Pleasant T. Rowland, an alumna of Wells College, noted educator, author of early childhood literacy programs, and founder of the American Girl Company. Pleasant has restored over a dozen historic properties in Aurora between since 2001, many of which today comprise the Inns of Aurora.
About the Inns of Aurora
The Inns of Aurora is the premier AAA four-diamond luxury resort in New York’s unspoiled Finger Lakes region. Recently featured in Vogue, Condé Nast Traveler, and Town & Country, the Inns of Aurora earned its place in 2019 as one of the Top Fifteen Resorts in the U.S. in Travel+Leisure’s prestigious World’s Best Awards. More information can be found at innsofaurora.com or by calling 315.364.8888.
