Entire home

Historic Home at Sheldrake in the Finger Lakes

Photo gallery for Historic Home at Sheldrake in the Finger Lakes

Exterior
Exterior
Terrace/patio
Beach
Outdoor dining

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms3 bathroomsSleeps 8325.2 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Washer
  • Parking available
  • Barbecue grill
  • Kitchen
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Ovid, NY
  • Sheldrake Point Winery
    ‪4 min walk‬
  • Cayuga Lake
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Thirsty Owl Wine Company
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Ithaca, NY (ITH-Tompkins Regional)
    ‪41 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Soap · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Soap · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

About this property

Historic Home at Sheldrake in the Finger Lakes

“The Gables” is a historic 1851 home in the heart of New York’s Finger Lakes region and a short walk to the shores of Cayuga Lake. Named one of the "Landmarks of Seneca County," this beautiful home has been family owned for over 100 years and four generations. Relax in this spacious and comfortable Gothic Revival home with beautiful interior and a large wraparound front porch. Enjoy the charm and elegance of an 1800s home with its beautiful woodwork, formal dining room, living room and parlor. A winding staircase greets you as you walk in the front door.

A large stained glass light fixture hangs over the table in the dining room. The living room invites you to sit in front of the fireplace and read your favorite book. The front parlor is a great place to play your favorite card game, board game or put together a challenging jigsaw puzzle.

Upstairs are four comfortable bedrooms (one king and three queen) and, as a bonus, another cozy living room to relax, enjoy your favorite TV show or read. The front porch has rocking chairs and tables to dine al fresco. This home has more than enough room for everyone to have their own space or gather together. The property is surrounded by a large lawn, beautiful trees and has a large paved circular driveway for vehicle parking.

Located perfectly for your vacation while visiting the Cayuga and Seneca Lake Wineries, Taughannock Falls, Watkins Glen, Ithaca, Cornell, Ithaca College, Geneva, or Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

Conveniently located near Cayuga Shoreline event center for your family wedding or event.

This is your starting place to get out and enjoy the heart of the Finger Lakes. You will be amazed how uncrowded and wonderful it is. Walk along beautiful County Road 153 as it follows the shores of Cayuga Lake passing many stately old lake houses as well as award winning Sheldrake Point Winery. Not far down the road is O’Malley’s Cabin on the Lake restaurant.

If you own a boat or watercraft, there is a boat launch just down the street so you can enjoy being on the waters of Cayuga Lake.

Also, just down the street, you can board a boat for the “Water to Wine” tour which takes to you to wineries located on Cayuga Lake. If you would rather go by car, hire the “Main St. Driver”, a chauffeur who uses your car to take you to any of the more than 200 Finger Lakes wineries and brings you home safely.

A short drive can also take you to the famous Lively Run Goat Dairy, where delicious local cheese is crafted, and you can meet the fun- loving goats!

If you are a hiker, you’ll love the many local hiking and walking trails at Taughannock, Watkins Glen, Ithaca and Hector. If you’re a bird watcher, you can see Canada Geese, wild ducks, Loons, Herons, Osprey, and even Bald Eagles on or along the shores of Cayuga. You can also visit the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge at the northern end of Cayuga Lake. A short drive will take you to Deer Haven Park, the official site of the Seneca White Deer tours to see rare white deer.

We provide literature about these exciting adventures.

Get the idea? Relax… or go see…. or do both!

Here is what we offer at The Gables:

• Individual air conditioners in each bedroom and large air conditioner downstairs.

• Laundry room with washer, dryer, iron and ironing board.

• Kitchen with dinner ware, silver ware, cookware, dish washer, drip and Keurig coffee makers, gas cooktop, electric oven and two refrigerators.

• WiFi included.

• Two TVs (with streaming), One in the upstairs living room, one in a bedroom.

• Pamphlets and information about local recreation, tours and entertainment and dining.

• Outside gas grill.

• Three full bathrooms, two up and one down.



PLEASE NOTE:

ELECTRIC VEHICLES - Public recharging stations are available in nearby Trumansburg NY. There are no convenient outside outlets on the property for recharging. Use of extension cords from the house to your vehicle are prohibited for safety purposes.

NO PETS POLICY- NO exceptions

NO CHILDREN UNDER 12 YEARS OF AGE: Exceptions for non-walking infants (Contact before booking)

NO SMOKING IN HOUSE OR ON PREMISES – No exceptions

NOT SUITABLE FOR WEDDINGS, RECEPTIONS, PARTIES OR GATHERINGS including outside guests. Property is for the use and enjoyment of registered guests only unless prior approval from owners given.

DON’T GET US WRONG! – We love, Pets, Children, Weddings and Parties. We establish these rules simply to keep our property in the best possible condition for your arrival and stay with us. Thank You, and we look forward to your visit.

Property manager

Karl & Patricia Messmer
Premier Host

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Free WiFi
Air conditioning
Outdoor space

Similar properties

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 21
Check out before 10:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 13–17
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Events

No events allowed
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Pets

No pets allowed
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Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Long-term renters welcome
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

About the area

Ovid

Sheldrake, a neighbourhood in Ovid, is home to this holiday home. Sheldrake Point Winery and Thirsty Owl Wine Company are worth checking out if an activity is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Cayuga Lake and Sampson State Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Ovid, NY

What's nearby

  • Sheldrake Point Winery - 4 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Cayuga Lake - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • Thirsty Owl Wine Company - 5 min drive - 6.0 km
  • Wells College - 57 min drive - 65.8 km
  • Long Point State Park - Finger Lakes - 63 min drive - 69.3 km

Getting around

  • Ithaca, NY (ITH-Tompkins Regional) - 41 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪New Dragon - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪McDonald's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Aurora Ale & Lager Co. - ‬61 min drive
  • ‪Finger Lakes Cider House - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Thirsty Owl Wine Company - ‬6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Historic Home at Sheldrake in the Finger Lakes pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Historic Home at Sheldrake in the Finger Lakes?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Historic Home at Sheldrake in the Finger Lakes?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Historic Home at Sheldrake in the Finger Lakes located?

Located in Sheldrake, this holiday home is within a 5-minute walk of Sheldrake Point Winery and Cayuga Lake. WeBeTilin' Studios is 0.4 mi (0.7 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 11 out of 11 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 11 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 11 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 11 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 11 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Jim C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Reunion

Property was centrally located allowing us to enjoy both Cayuga and Seneca lakes. Karl and Pat were very congenial hosts. We enjoyed the loaves of bread that Pat had baked. Being an 1850's house it had a lot of interesting nuances that we all enjoyed investigating. If in the area again we would definitely consider staying at the Gables at Sheldrake.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

joanne b.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect!!

Beautiful historic home, comfortable, spacious, impeccably clean and great location very close to the venue where our niece was married. Karl greeted us on arrival to explain a few things and was very responsive when we needed anything. I highly recommend this place and would stay here again in a heartbeat.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

John S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Epic family vacation

We loved this large house with living room, dining room, family room, and 2 staircases. Enough room for everybody around the dining room table, and 2 dining tables on the large wraparound porch for everyone to relax at. A gorgeous house with really cool historic features. A terrific location near multiple wineries and the lake right nearby. Took the wine boat tour around the corner about a blocks walk. Took us to multiple wineries on this side and across the lake. A nice grill and even a farm stand a half mile up the road that had the best produce. Enjoyed the lovely green lawn and had epic badminton battles while others sipped mimosas on the porch. Everyone from the 24 year olds to our 86 year old mother was comfortable here. We will be back! Pat and Karl could not have been more helpful, offering us advice on what to see and do and when we were short an egg one night, even providing two from their kitchen next door.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anthony M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Long weekend at the Sheldrake

Historic home well situated.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Paula V.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfortable and convenient location

We attended a wedding at Cayuga Shoreline and the Sheldrake home was conveniently located for our planned group of 8 (4 minute drive). We had an unexpected issue so we ended up having only 3 people stay at the property. The beds were very comfortable, the kitchen was well stocked and the owners who live next door responded very quickly when we asked about beach chairs, delivering them within 15 minutes. The kitchen is a bit dated but it served the purpose, and everything worked as it should. The porch was a great place to have coffee in the morning. We stopped at the Sheldrake winery for a wine tasting, went to Taughannock Falls State Park and Cayuga State Park, both within 30 minutes. We ate at Wolffy's deck overlooking Cayuga Lake and enjoyed music at the boat bar at lake level. Overall, we enjoyed our stay at the Sheldrake house.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jenifer G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A great experience.

This is a great home for a family to get away from it all. Clean, large house with all the amenities. We enjoyed sitting outside on the wrap-around front porch, plenty of space for everyone. Not too far from Cornell, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and highly recommend this rental.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ann

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
This house was warm, clean and comfortable. Everything you would want in a charming house. We enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Russell D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent place to stay.

The Gables had everything needed on hand. Plenty of bedrooms and a nice porch to enjoy the evenings outside. A large kitchen and dining room. Also, a nice sitting room to relax and watch TV upstairs.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

John B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Waterfalls

Beautiful historic home close to several waterfalls. Nice quiet location. Walking distance to lake. Enjoyed breakfast on a large porch.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jenny B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gorgeous home in a perfect location

This place is even more gorgeous in person. My friends and I enjoyed everything about our stay. Learning the history of the house and its owners added to the enjoyment. Our hosts were responsive and welcoming. The front porch was our favorite hang-out spot. I also appreciated the quality of the beds and bedding…comfortable beds and more than enough blankets and pillows. Thank you again!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pat R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved The Gables

We had five family members staying at the Gables for a college graduation. The home is as charming as it looks, and we had a wonderful time here just a few blocks from Cayuga Lake. Karl and Pat went above and beyond to help make our stay comfortable and memorable, from the baked blueberry and lemon loaves, to helping us find a way to charge our EV each night. For those with mobility issues, it's good to know that one set of stairs in the house is steep and the risers quite narrow, and there is currently no first floor bedroom. This is because the house is still a tribute to its rich history, much of which you can learn from the photos and maps gracing the walls, as well as the excellent summary books of the area in the front parlor. Being able to walk down and take a dip in the lake was a welcome bonus, and the entire neighborhood is a delight to explore. In short, we had an outstanding visit at the Gables, and will certainly check in with Pat and Karl when we're next near Ithaca.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023

About the host

Hosted by Karl & Patricia Messmer

Host profile image

Languages:

English

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests