The Inns of Aurora are three distinct elegant properties located in Aurora, New York, in the Finger Lakes region. The Aurora Inn, the E.B. Morgan House, and the Rowland House all offer luxurious accommodations with modern amenities in fine homes overflowing with history, antiques, and fine art.
The first of the properties, the Aurora Inn, was built in 1833 by Colonel Edward Barber Morgan, the co-founder of The New York Times and American Express. It was designed as an inn for travelers along the Erie Canal. It has been extensively renovated to add sumptuous amenities while maintaining the flavor of its Federal-style architecture which was so popular in the early years of the American Republic. This fine white-columned building is graced with stone terraces, Oriental rugs, rich wood, fine fabrics, and simple and charming decor are spread throughout the common areas and guest rooms.
The E.B. Morgan House was the private residence of the magnate and his family. The exterior boasts wide, rolling lawns, and broad lakeside porches, while the interior is lit with bold colors and fine modern art.
Rowland House, set on the eastern shores of Lake Cayuga, was built by Alonzo Morgan Zabriskie in 1903. A classical Greek temple, magnificent trees, and sweeping lake views will delight all who stay there. Rowland House's rooms are decorated in bold colors, have clear vistas of the lake, and are decorated with unique designs and ceramics of the Mackenzie-Childs artists. Scroll to see the full list with photos or jump to the table of contents.
The Inns
All three properties of The Inns of Aurora have luxurious guest rooms. Guests are treated to marble bathrooms, flat-screen TVs and DVD players tucked discreetly into armoires, Bose stereos, high-speed wireless internet, Frette linens, spa-quality bath products, and thick terry robes. Many rooms have gas fireplaces. Complimentary morning coffee – free-trade and organic – and locally baked muffins are available for all guests.
Guests of all three properties are welcome to come to the Aurora Inn and use its lakeside fire pit, which is surrounded by comfortable Adirondack chairs; and all guests are invited to use the Aurora Inn's canoes, kayaks, and bicycles in season, and its snowshoes and sleds on snowy winter days. There is also an open dock for boating and swimming.
The Aurora Inn
Accommodations at The Aurora Inn face either the lake or the charming village of Aurora. All rooms have gas fireplaces, marble bathrooms, sitting areas, and balconies with rocking chairs and swings. The Lake View rooms have large windows for increased enjoyment of the landscape. Both Lake View and Village View rooms are available with queen or king beds.
The Lake View King Suite is accessed by a private staircase, and has a bedroom and separate sitting room. This suite offers an in-room wet bar, a fridge, and a deep whirlpool bath with skylights.
The Double Suite is also accessed by private stairway, and has two double beds. This suite has a vaulted ceiling with exposed beams, a sitting area, a wet bar, a fridge, and a deep whirlpool with skylights.
Children are welcome at The Aurora Inn.
The E.B. Morgan House
Rooms at the E.B. Morgan House face either the lake or the pretty village of Aurora. Rooms are available with king or queen beds. Room 1 is a Village View Queen with high ceilings, wood paneling, a queen-sized four-poster bed, a sitting area, and is handicap-accessible. Room 2 is a Lake View Queen with a four-poster bed, a twin sleeper sofa, and a step-down marble bathroom with heated floors. Room 3 is a Lake View Queen with wrap-around windows, and Room 4 is a Village View Queen, with a canopy bed, a gas fireplace, and a unique curved wardrobe. Room 5 is a Village View King with a double shower and a gas fireplace. Rooms 6 and 7 are a Village View Queen and a Lake View King respectively.
The E.B. Morgan House welcomes guests over the age of 14.
Rowland House
Rowland House's decor is colorful and original. Guests may choose from rooms with a variety of bright color schemes. Room 1, a Lake View Queen, is a fresh, nautically-themed room with heated floors in its marble bathroom. Room 2, a Village View King, is delightfully decorated with yellow wallpaper and accessories. Room 3, a Lake View Queen, is fitted with natural wicker seating, original Birdseye Maple wood furnishings, and a view of the lake and the Grecian temple. Room 4 is a Lake View King, and features an antique Chinese armoire and a bright pink color scheme. Room 5, a Lake View King, blends neutral tones with red accents, and offers lake views from the shower. Room 6, a Lake View Queen, has deep windowsills, a chaise lounge for comfortable lazing, and bright fuchsia walls.
Room 7, a Village View Queen, is vibrant with fuchsia walls, pink and orange seating, and hand-painted furniture. Room 8, a Lake View Queen, has walls and ceilings hand-painted by artists from Mackenzie-Childs in a black and white check. Room 9, a Lake View Double, is a gable room with decor inspired by the hand-painted rooms of Russia. Room 10, a Village View Queen, is tucked under a gable, decorated playfully in yellow and red, has a reading nook overlooking the lake, and an antique writing desk.
Dining at the Inns of Aurora
The Aurora Inn Dining Room seats its guests in the indoor dining room or outside on the veranda. Its chefs focus on farm-to-table dining and use local wine grapes, organic locally-sourced vegetables, artisanal cheeses, and grass-fed beef. The restaurant serves award-winning American cuisine and has a wine list including Finger Lakes vintages. The Aurora Dining Room is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and on Saturday and Sunday for brunch.
The Fargo Bar and Grill is directly across the street from The Aurora Inn. It serves casual food in a laid-back atmosphere, and patrons can play pool or throw horseshoes at the outdoor pitch.
Directly adjacent to The Aurora Inn is the Village Market. It offers carry-out meals for guests, including entrees, soups, chili, and chowders.
Dorie's Bakery, in the village of Aurora, supplies The Aurora Inn with all its baked goods, and since 1920 has been serving the surrounding area with coffee, pastries, cookies, sandwiches, and local ice cream.
Weddings & Meetings
Beautiful weddings are held at The Inns of Aurora year-round, both indoors and outside on the shores of Cayuga Lake. All of the properties can provide catering and can recommend local services.
The Aurora Inn seats 96 guests in its Lakeside Room for plated dinners, or 125 guests for cocktail receptions. When the weather is pleasant, the doors of the Lakeside Room can be opened onto a terrace overlooking the lake, giving wedding guests a place to sip cocktails and to dance. For guests who prefer an outdoor reception, The Aurora Inn provides white tents which hold 200 guests, and have high ceilings, white lights, and a wide wooden dance floor to protect against inclement weather.
The E.B. Morgan House is ideal for small weddings. Its dining room can seat 14 guests for a five-course meal, or 25 guests for a cocktail reception.
At Rowland House, the Grecian temple is available for ceremonies or for cocktail or buffet receptions for up to 50 people. Indoors, the dining room of Rowland House can seat 22 people for dinner.
All three of The Inns at Aurora are available for meeting space. The Aurora Inn seats 36 people in a classroom-style environment, or 120 people for theater-style presentations. Rowland House has an executive boardroom, and the E.B. Morgan House has private meeting spaces. All of the properties have state of the art audio-visual equipment and support staff to assist in making business meetings run smoothly.
Plan This Vacation
On warm days, borrowing a kayak or canoe and paddling into the quiet atmosphere of Cayuga Lake is a wonderful way to spend time. Guests can also rent boats, or bring their own, docking them at The Aurora Inn's private dock. The lake is a lovely place to swim and cool off in the summer. Fishing charters are available, and the bounty of the lake includes rainbow, brown, and lake trout, as well as Atlantic salmon. Away from the water, guests can borrow bicycles from the inn and explore bike trails, or golf at the Wells College 9-hole golf course. In the winter, there are snowshoes and sleds available for family fun, and several ski resorts nearby offer both downhill and cross-country skiing.
History lovers will enjoy the wealth of opportunities in the Aurora region. The Women's Rights National Historic Park includes the National Women's Hall of Fame, and the home of Elizabeth Cady Stanton, a leader of the suffrage movement. The Harriet Tubman home is nearby, and visitors can find out about this celebrated conductor on the Underground Railway. The Willard Memorial Chapel, built in 1894, is the only church to have all of its glass designed and installed by the great Louis Comfort Tiffany.
391 Main Street, Aurora, NY 13026, Phone: 315-364-8888, website, Map
Back to: Finger Lakes Weekend Getaways
