An excerpt from Hotel Designs:

Throughout its history, the Aurora Inn evolved in purpose, first as a stopover for travellers, later as a residence hall for Wells College in the 1960s, and in May 2003, the Aurora Foundation extensively restored and reimagined the Aurora Inn. Today, the Aurora Inn serves as the flagship property of Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa, a nationally-recognised resort that layers the spirit of a simpler time with a contemporary approach to wellness and design.

The Inns of Aurora stands as a luxury-boutique escape in the heart of the Finger Lakes, awarded One MICHELIN Key in 2025 for its exceptional hospitality offerings. Now, the Farmhouse stands as the next piece in this legacy. Originally built in 1835 as the centerpiece of Benjamin Gould’s robust 140-acre farm, this red brick Greek Revival home had stood as one of the last major historic structures in Aurora left unrestored. Hart Howerton oversaw the architecture, interiors, and landscape for the Farmhouse. The design approach began with a faithful restoration of the original red brick home, affirming their belief that honouring the past can create meaningful places for the present. The masonry was repointed and cleaned, the trim recreated, and the columned porch restored to its historic prominence. Its revival is both symbolic and functional. Symbolic because it represents the completion of a long-term project of preservation, and functional because it expands the Inns of Aurora’s offerings, creating a new retreat designed for gatherings of families, friends, and more.

The Farmhouse also plays an important role as a bridge within the Inns of Aurora as a whole. Down in the village, the five historic inns each carry the language of the 19th century, while up on the hillside the Spa at the Inns of Aurora, also designed by Hart Howerton, introduced a new, pared back agricultural aesthetic. The Farmhouse sits between the two, both physically and conceptually. Its red brick core ties it to the historic architecture of Main Street, while its new wing adopts the contemporary language of the Spa. Connected through light-filled galleries, the design stitches together the larger campus so that the resort reads as a complete composition rather than separate parts.

Read the full article in Hotel Designs HERE