The multi-million dollar renovation at the historic, 24-room Inn at Taughannock Falls is complete.
Among the changes on the lakeside property include a new outdoor wedding and events space, which holds upwards of 300 people.
The Inn, which celebrates its 75th anniversary of continuous operation in 2021, is perfectly situated on 12-acres in the heart of the New York Finger Lakes region less than 10 miles from Ithaca along the Finger Lakes Wine Trail. With sweeping views of Cayuga Lake, the Inn’s extensive grounds are surrounded by Taughannock Falls State Park, and all four of the property’s luxurious guest houses are within easy walking distance of nearby Taughannock Falls, the tallest waterfall east of the Rocky Mountains.
Independently owned and operated by 1981 Ithaca College graduate Carl Mazzocone and other investors, the Inn recently underwent several improvements to its guest rooms and property grounds. After retiring from the movie business in Los Angeles, Mazzocone moved to the Finger Lakes region to find respite from the constant bustle to improve upon the very property where he and other collegians celebrated important life moments. His cinematic prowess was not lost on the Inn’s redesign and new wedding and event additions. With a historic building and idyllic locale, the Inn at Taughannock Falls resembles a movie set with a sense of wonder around each turn.
The most notable update is the addition of Enchantment, a 6,000 square foot outdoor wedding tent and event venue suitable for groups of up to 300 attendees with sweeping views of Cayuga Lake. The garden-style venue, which is among the grandest outdoor event spaces on the East Coast, is built upon a full acre of the property’s grounds adjacent to the historic 150-year-old Victorian Inn. Couples can host their wedding ceremony at the foot of the Inn’s regal bluestone staircase that leads directly to the 100-by-60-foot translucent sailcloth tent for dinner, drinks, and dancing under the stars. With a new 42-foot custom alabaster bar, hidden food and beverage service stations that connect underground that go unnoticed by guests, and a grand custom hand-laid dry stack stone fireplace and surrounding fire pits, the space creates an unbreakable illusion of grandeur and elegance. Upon nightfall, couples can customize colorful lighting and music within the tented area to reflect the mood of the moment with specifically designed LED light fixtures, custom chandeliers, and state-of-the-art surround-sound speakers throughout the space. The dedicated culinary team of the Inn’s popular American- Mediterranean restaurant creates all cuisine for events on-property and can design each menu to the exact specifications of the hosts.
While Enchantment is perfect for large-scale events, the Inn’s newly refreshed indoor spaces can be set for more intimate gatherings such as private dinners, micro weddings, or showers, ranging from 10 to 140 guests. The Jones Room, named for the Inn’s original owners John and Charlotte Jones, comfortably seats up to 30 guests for sit-down plated dinners, while the Inn Restaurant dining room featuring picturesque views of the Cayuga Lake is ideal for private events of up to 80. The entire Victorian Inn can be reserved for seated dinners of up to 140 guests. The Inn’s nearby lake house, Hillside, was redesigned as the perfect home base for family or friends while organizing a wedding weekend or celebration. The six-room standalone house can be reserved for up to 12 guests, including the hotel’s largest suite, Le Grande, which features a living room with a pool table, dining room, modern full kitchen, and more amenities.
With ideal proximity to the Taughannock Falls, the Inn’s team built an access path to the park trailhead. Couples who select the Inn as their wedding venue have exclusive access to host their wedding ceremony at the state park near the lower Taughannock Falls for a nature-centric wedding experience. Couples can then drive to the top of the iconic 215-foot waterfall for incredible views and memorable photo opportunities before celebrating at the wedding garden for the evening. The Inn can also arrange for a classic car, boat, or other unique modes of transportation for any event held on property.
In addition to the new stunning wedding and event spaces, other upgrades to the property include a refresh of all guest rooms in each of the property’s four buildings with new design including the addition of stunning marble bathrooms with luxury rain showerheads, supple Egyptian cotton linens, plush new mattresses, televisions, coffeemakers, and luxury bath amenities from Beekman 1802. Locally curated antique decor and furnishings accentuate the Inn’s rooms and public spaces, including some of the original owners’ antiquities from when they first built the Inn as their summer home as a getaway from nearby Philadelphia in 1873. Film buffs might notice the original Maltese falcon from its namesake 1941 movie tucked away behind the first floor bar, or Johnny Drama’s 1965 Lincoln Continental convertible from “Entourage” humming around the grounds.
The Inn at Taughannock Falls’ recent updates are a testament to the owners’ new vision and care of a local landmark that has improved the Inn’s iconic spaces, dedicated its staff to service excellence, and perfectly positioned itself for its next 75 years of operations. For more information about the Inn at Taughannock Falls, or to make reservations or book a wedding or event, call 607-387-7711 or visit www.inntfalls.com.
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