Rowland House
BUILT IN 1903, RESTORED IN 2014
Constructed on the shore of Cayuga Lake by Alonzo Morgan Zabriskie in 1903, Rowland House is encompassed by ancient trees, an historic Grecian temple, and a spectacular two-story boathouse.
Rowland House offers chic accommodations in Finger Lakes, New York. Each of its ten guestrooms feature a private marble bath, vibrant color schemes, original modern art, stunning views, and luxurious linens. Our four whimsy guestrooms—along with a private lounge—comprise the entire third floor, decorated with the distinctive and playful designs of MacKenzie-Childs.
Rowland House is best enjoyed in the company of other adults.
Please note that we do not accommodate children under the age of 12 without a private rental.
Rowland House Guestrooms
Superior
Petite Whimsy Lake View
Rowland House Highlights
- Spacious parlors with fireplaces and games
- Butler’s pantry
- Third-floor MacKenzie-Childs lounge
- Elevator access
- Expansive lakeside lawn with firepit
- Comfortable wrap-around porch
- Complimentary glass of wine each afternoon
- Morning coffee & homemade granola bars
- Access to resort activities & events
- Complimentary parking
- Dedicated, on-site innkeeper
- Hi-speed wireless Internet access
- In-room safe, ironing board, blow dryer
- Bedside charging stations
- Flat-screen televisions
- Spa-quality bath products
- Down duvets & pillows; Frette linens
- In-room bottled water
- Plush robes
With the rental of all ten guestrooms at Rowland House, guests may plan private dinners and events at the home. View our private rental packages to learn more and contact us for pricing and availability.
Rowland House Premier Lake View
These guest-favorite, spacious rooms each offer one king-size bed—outfitted in fine Frette linens—along with a comfortable seating area, a writer’s desk, and unparalleled views of Cayuga Lake. Each room features an elegant bath with heated marble floors, a walk-in shower, plush robes, and spa-quality bath products from William Roam.
Designer finishes and original, modern art complement the high-tech amenities in these rooms—including high-speed wireless internet, bedside charging ports, and a flat-screen television.
Your stay at Rowland House includes a glass of wine each afternoon; each morning, enjoy locally-roasted, organic coffee and homemade granola bars. For added convenience, each room is outfitted with a minifridge and complimentary bottled water.
As a guest of the Inns of Aurora, you have access to a wide range of activities and amenities, from yoga classes to our fleet of bicycles and kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards and more.
Premier Lake view highlights
- 325 to 330 sq. ft.
- King bed
- Commanding lake view
- Comfortable seating area
- Marble bath with heated floors
- Wine & cheese hour
- Morning coffee
- Complimentary WiFi
Rowland House Superior
These sunny rooms each offer one king-size bed—outfitted in fine Frette linens—along with a writer’s desk, comfortable seating area, and charming views of the village. Each room features an elegant bath with heated marble floors, a walk-in shower, plush robes, and spa-quality bath products from William Roam.
Designer finishes and original, modern art complement the high-tech amenities in these rooms—including high-speed wireless internet, bedside charging ports, and a flat-screen television.
Your stay at Rowland House includes a glass of wine each afternoon; each morning, enjoy locally-roasted, organic coffee and homemade granola bars. For added convenience, each room is outfitted with a minifridge and complimentary bottled water.
As a guest of the Inns of Aurora, you have access to a wide range of activities and amenities, from yoga classes to our fleet of bicycles and kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards and more.
Superior room highlights
- 315 sq. ft.
- King bed
- Village view
- Comfortable seating area
- Marble bath with heated floors
- Wine & cheese hour
- Morning coffee
- Complimentary WiFi
Rowland House Superior Lake View ADA
This spacious room offers one king-size bed and one twin-size bed—outfitted in fine Frette linens—along with a writer’s desk, comfortable lounge chairs, and commanding views of Cayuga Lake. An elegant bath features an accessible shower with grab bars, heated marble floors, plush robes, and spa-quality bath products from William Roam. This room is ADA compliant.
Designer finishes and original, modern art complement the high-tech amenities in this room—including high-speed wireless internet, bedside charging ports, and a flat-screen television.
Your stay at Rowland House includes a glass of wine each afternoon; each morning, enjoy locally-roasted, organic coffee and homemade granola bars. For added convenience, each room is outfitted with a minifridge and complimentary bottled water.
As a guest of the Inns of Aurora, you have access to a wide range of amenities and activities, from stargazing equipment to art kits, our New York Times bestseller library, and more.
Superior Lake View ADA highlights
- 415 sq. ft.
- King bed & twin bed
- Commanding lake view
- Comfortable seating area
- Marble bath with heated floors
- Wine & cheese hour
- Morning coffee
- Complimentary WiFi
Rowland House Deluxe Lake View
These charming rooms offers one queen-size bed—outfitted in fine Frette linens—along with comfortable seating area and commanding views of Cayuga Lake. Each room features an elegant bath with heated marble floors, a walk-in shower, plush robes, and spa-quality bath products from William Roam.
Designer finishes and original, modern art complement the high-tech amenities in these rooms—including high-speed wireless internet, bedside charging ports, and a flat-screen television.
Your stay at Rowland House includes a glass of wine each afternoon; each morning, enjoy locally-roasted, organic coffee and homemade granola bars. For added convenience, each room is outfitted with a minifridge and complimentary bottled water.
As a guest of the Inns of Aurora, you have access to a wide range of activities and amenities, from yoga classes to our fleet of bicycles and kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards and more.
Deluxe Lake View highlights
- 265 sq. ft.
- Queen bed
- Commanding lake view
- Comfortable seating area
- Marble bath with heated floors
- Wine & cheese hour
- Morning coffee
- Complimentary WiFi
Rowland House Whimsy Deluxe
Tucked away in the top floor of Rowland House, these whimsical rooms each feature the distinctive designs of MacKenzie-Childs. The talented artisans at MacKenzie-Childs, based here in Aurora, handcraft pottery, furniture, and more with the playful patterns that have earned their world-wide fame.
Each of our signature whimsy rooms offer one queen-size bed—outfitted in fine Frette linens—along with a comfortable reading chair, a writer’s desk, and charming village views. Each room features an elegant bath clad in MacKenzie-Childs tile with heated marble floors, a walk-in shower, plush robes, and spa-quality bath products from William Roam.
Original modern art complements the high-tech amenities in these rooms—including high-speed wireless internet, bedside charging ports, and a flat-screen television.
Your stay at Rowland House includes a glass of wine each afternoon; each morning, enjoy locally-roasted, organic coffee and homemade granola bars. For added convenience, each room is outfitted with a minifridge and complimentary bottled water.
As a guest of the Inns of Aurora, you have access to a wide range of activities and amenities, from yoga classes to our fleet of bicycles and kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards and more.
Whimsy Deluxe highlights
- 265 to 330 sq. ft.
- Queen bed
- MacKenzie-Childs décor
- Comfortable reading chair
- Marble bath with heated floors
- Wine & cheese hour
- Morning coffee
- Complimentary WiFi
Rowland House Petite Whimsy Lake View
Inspired by traditional hand-painted Russian designs and tucked under a gable of the house, this sweet room offers stunning lake views. A full-size bed—outfitted in fine Frette linens—features a hand-painted antique headboard, and a writer’s desk. Whimsical décor from our neighbors at MacKenzie-Childs complete the scene. An elegant bath features MacKenzie-Childs tile, heated marble floors, a walk-in shower, plush robes, and spa-quality bath products from William Roam.
Original modern art complements the high-tech amenities in these rooms—including high-speed wireless internet, bedside charging ports, and a flat-screen television.
Your stay at Rowland House includes a glass of wine each afternoon; each morning, enjoy locally-roasted, organic coffee and homemade granola bars. For added convenience, each room is outfitted with a minifridge and complimentary bottled water.
As a guest of the Inns of Aurora, you have access to a wide range of activities and amenities, from yoga classes to our fleet of bicycles and kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddle boards and more.
Petite Whimsy Lake View highlights
- 200 sq. ft.
- Full bed
- Lake view
- MacKenzie-Childs décor
- Comfortable reading chair
- Marble bath with heated floors
- Wine & cheese hour
- Morning coffee
- Complimentary WiFi
History of Rowland House
Alonzo Morgan Zabriskie was born the deaf grandson of E.B. Morgan in 1867. An avid sailor, Alonzo spent much of his youth on Cayuga Lake, and even assisted in saving passengers off a capsized catamaran at the age of 17. While on land, Alonzo enjoyed raising chickens in his spare time.
Alonzo married the “beautiful and accomplished” Belle Loader of Saint Louis in 1902. An opulent, high-society affair, Belle selected a wedding color scheme of green and white. After a brief honeymoon, Alonzo began construction of a grand new home—now Rowland House—later that year. Built for entertaining, the home hosted many bridge games, charity sales, and other social functions at the bequest of Belle. In the winter, the newlyweds retreated to Palm Beach, where Alonzo could fish year-round—it was here that Alonzo conquered a nine-foot hammerhead shark with six successive shots from his revolver.
In 1912, Alonzo, Belle, and their seven-year-old son Lansing moved to an even grander home in Greenwich, Connecticut, but kept their Aurora house for future use. Tragically, Alonzo died of angina (a heart condition) less than a year later—in May of 1913. Continuing his family’s philanthropic legacy, Alonzo left his grand lakeside home to Wells College.
In October of 1913, the newly inducted President of Wells College, Kerr Duncan Macmillan, moved his family into the home. Macmillan’s two young sons made good use of the home as a playground of sorts, and Kerr hosted many of the college’s social functions here.
A noted scholar of the German Protestantism movement and ordained minister, Macmillan successfully led the college through particularly difficult times—overseeing Wells through both World War I and the Great Depression. Shortly after the war’s conclusion, a devastating fire destroyed much of downtown Aurora. In an effort to save the Inn—whose cornices began smoldering—Macmillan joined the fire brigade on the Inn’s roof, dumping buckets of water to prevent the fire’s spreading. Later that night, he took back to his home the many unattended children whose parents continued to fight the blaze. Macmillan retired from his presidency in 1936 and passed away two years later. He is buried in the Oak Glen Cemetery of Aurora, where Alonzo also rests.
During the planning and renovation phases of the Aurora Inn in the early 2000s, this home was used as the headquarters for the Aurora Foundation and Aurora Interiors. Restoration of the property commenced in 2013 under the stewardship of philanthropist Pleasant T. Rowland, an alumna of Wells College, noted educator, author of early childhood literacy programs, and founder of American Girl. Dotted with art and furnishings from her personal collection, Rowland House pays tribute to both Pleasant’s vision and philanthropic legacy.
