About Us
The Inns of Aurora are run by a passionate, creative, and hardworking team. We’re committed to the beautiful and bountiful Finger Lakes. We’re committed to providing authentic and immersive experiences for our guests. And we’re committed to one another. We hope it shows in all we do.
Whether you visit us for a wedding or to learn a bit about organic farming, for a recreational cooking class or to enjoy an anniversary dinner, you’ll feel the genuine sense of fun and kinship underlying all we do. You’ll also witness our uniquely lived history, our profound ecological connection, and our lasting relationships with our guests. We invite you to be a part of it.
About Us
- Our History[heading]Aurora Inn[/heading] Originally named Aurora House, the Aurora Inn was built in 1833 by Colonel E. B. Morgan, a native of Aurora and original investor in The New York Times. By the mid-19th century, Aurora became a major stop on the Erie Canal for boats carrying agricultural products from area farmers to New York City. Henry Wells, of Wells Fargo stagecoach fame and the founder of American Express, established Wells College there in 1868. During its colorful past, the Aurora Inn was a favored overnight destination for travelers borne by coach, canal boat and rail. It has long been a popular gathering spot for students from Wells, Cornell University and other nearby colleges. In the early 1840s, William D. Eagles purchased the inn and engaged his uncle John Eagles, a former sea captain, to manage it for him. When a fire destroyed the main building at Wells College in 1888, many students lived temporarily at the Aurora Inn, which they renamed the Wayside Inn. Fire struck again on February 18, 1919, destroying Aurora’s tiny business district between the old post office and the Aurora Inn. When the south cornices of the inn caught fire, Wells College President Kerr Duncan McMillan climbed onto the roof and helped to douse the blaze.In 1943, the inn was deeded to Wells College. Despite a series of additions, renovations and new managers, from the 1970s, the inn faced financial struggles. A drain on the college’s resources, it was closed several times during the last three decades, most recently in October 2000. [heading]E.B. Morgan House[/heading] One of Aurora’s most notable and distinctive landmarks is the former home of Edwin Barber Morgan, his wife Charlotte Wood Morgan, their children, and succeeding generations of the Morgan-Zabriskie family. The residence, designed in the Italianate style, was constructed between 1857 and 1858 for ,000, a staggering sum in that era. E.B. Morgan (1806-1881) was born in Aurora and attended the local Cayuga Lake Academy. At an early age he showed considerable business acumen, working at his father’s store in the heart of the village that was, during his youth, a bustling port. On the commercial dock that once stood behind the Aurora Inn, Morgan first met his lifelong friend and partner in both business and philanthropy, Henry Wells (1805-1878). Having generated capital from the lake trade, Morgan built the Aurora Inn in 1833 and was an early investor in Henry Wells’ American Express Company as well as Wells, Fargo & Company, which included the stagecoach line that has become a national symbol of the pioneer spirit. Morgan also invested in many local enterprises, including the construction of steamboats and the Oswego Starch Company. Both Morgan and Wells were friends and business partners with a prominent citizen of nearby Ithaca – Ezra Cornell (1807-1874), a self-taught mechanic and inventor who became the largest stockholder of the Western Union Telegraph Company and founded Cornell University. Morgan and Cornell invested in the Cayuga Lake Railroad Company in the 1870s. The lake. Many homeowners might find this a detriment; Morgan saw it as an opportunity to monitor his investment. Reportedly, he stood with a watch and checked the train’s punctuality when it passed through his yard. Another of Morgan’s investments was in a fledgling New York City newspaper. Within a few years, he held controlling shares of the New York Times. He supported the paper in its efforts to expose the corruption of the notorious Tweed Ring, which led to the arrest and imprisonment of “Boss Tweed.” Surrounded by friends and family in his beloved home on Cayuga Lake, Morgan’s later years were increasingly devoted to supporting local philanthropic causes in the area of education, culture, and human welfare. He had a deep love for the people of Aurora and every year on the Fourth of July holidays, the Morgans treated the villagers to a spectacular fireworks display on their lawn. Morgan was a dedicated supporter of Henry Wells’ dream to establish a liberal arts college for women in Aurora—Wells College—that first opened as a seminary in 1866. He gave generously to the college, including 0,000 to establish its endowment. He was a Wells trustee and provided leadership in all aspects of college administration. He was also president of the Cayuga Lake Academy for more than 25 years, a trustee of Cornell University, and generous contributor to the Auburn Theological Seminary, a leading institution of its time. Following E.B. Morgan’s death, the mansion became the home of his daughter, Louise, and her husband Nicholas Lansing Zabriskie. It remained a Morgan-Zabriskie family residence until 1961 when it was given as a gift to Wells College by John L. and Lesley Zabriskie. It served as a residence hall for students studying French—only French was allowed to be spoken inside. E.B. Morgan’s former home was so conducive to the mastery of French that it remained in use for that purpose until the 1973-74 academic year. During that time it became known as French House in the village, a designation still used by local residents today. French House was renovated in 1979 and has served as a college guest house for the last quarter century. [heading]A Storied Past Lives On[/heading] The Aurora Foundation, a partnership between Wells College and the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation, began a complete renovation of the Aurora Inn and E.B. Morgan House in 2001 to restore them to their former grandeur and make them appealing once again for lodging, dining and special events. The inn and Morgan House reopened in May 2003 and July 2005, respectively, to rave reviews by visitors and media alike. The properties now stand as crown jewels in the revitalization of Aurora, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with Wells College and many homes in the village.
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- Accolades & Press“The village of Aurora is the perfect setting for a weekend wedding.” BRIDE’S (March/April 2005) Aurora “has the sophisticated intimacy of a quaint Vermont town.” Rochester Democrat & Chronicle (February 6, 2005) “Rooms are architecturally rich and graced with four-poster beds, duvet covers and antique furniture. Many have gorgeous lake views, fireplaces or balconies.” The Buffalo News (January 23, 2005) “Guest rooms combine Old World comforts (fireplaces, Regency-style beds, balcony rockers) and real-world conveniences (flat-panel television, high-speed Internet).” The New York Times (October 12, 2004) “The Inn is exceptionally well restored, beautifully decorated and staying there as a guest was a most gracious experience and of great comfort at the end of a full day’s work.” Donna Ferrari, BRIDE’S (September 27, 2004) “Aurora has an inn in the grand tradition and worthy of its distinguished heritage.” Elmira Star-Gazette (September 21, 2004) “A multimillion dollar facelift in the village of Aurora has polished this tiny Finger Lakes community into a shiny tourism jewel.” New Haven Register (September 5, 2004) “Aurora has a wealth of natural beauty, history and other diversions.” Gannett News Service (February 12, 2004) The “Aurora Inn offers big luxury in a small town.” Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin (February 6, 2004) “…a delightful setting that is as friendly and comfortable as it is elegant.” Syracuse Post-Standard (November 7, 2003) “Quiet comfort, impeccable service, exquisite décor and an enchanting waterfront setting…are the inn’s hallmarks.” Finger Lakes Times, Vacation Guide (May 2003)
- TeamHere you’ll meet Patrick, Greg, and Trina—Check back soon!
- Maps & DirectionsThe Aurora Inn is one of the few luxury hotels near Cornell University, Wells College, Ithaca, Rochester and Syracuse. Centrally located in the Finger Lakes near some of New York’s best wineries, a visit to Aurora is an easy getaway from New York City and other cities in the Northeast. A half hour from Ithaca and Skaneateles. Just over an hour from Syracuse and Rochester. An easy 4.5 hour drive from New York City. Click here to view map and directions from Google Maps. From the South: Take I-81 North to Exit 12 (Homer). Go straight to the first stoplight. Turn right and go to next stoplight. Turn left onto State Route 90. Continue along State Route 90 for about 45 minutes until you reach the village of Aurora. The inn is on your left. From the West: Take the New York State Thruway (I-90) East to Exit 41. Turn right onto Route 414 and then left onto Route 318. At the end of Route 318, turn left onto Routes 5 and 20. After 2 miles, turn right onto State Route 90. Stay on Route 90 for about 15 miles until you enter the village of Aurora. The inn is on your right. From the East: Take NYS Thruway (I-90) West to Exit 40 (Weedsport). Follow Route 34 South for 21 miles. You’ll travel through and past Auburn , to Sherwood Road and turn right. Follow Sherwood Road approximately 5.5 miles to State Route 90/Main Street and turn left. The Inn will be on your right. From the North: Take I-81 South to Syracuse to the New York State Thruway (1-90) West. Take Exit 40 (Weedsport). Follow Route 34 South for 21 miles. You’ll travel through and past Auburn, to Sherwood Road and turn right. Follow Sherwood Road approximately 5.5 miles to State Route 90/Main Street and turn left. The Inn will be on your right.
- ContactThe Inns at Aurora 391 Main Street Aurora, New York 13026 Phone: 315.364.8888 Toll Free: 866.364.8808 Fax: 315.364.8887 info@aurora-inn.com We want to hear from you! If you have questions or comments, or would like more information on any of our properties or offerings, please call us at 315.364.8888, e-mail us at info@aurora-inn.com, or fill out the form below and we will respond as quickly as possible. [gravityform id=1 name=Contact title=false description=false ajax=true]