Entire home

Historic Mansion at Fountain Place in Downtown Ithaca

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Exterior
Property grounds
Room
Room
Room

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional
7 bedrooms5 bathroomsSleeps 14

Popular amenities

  • Dryer
  • Kitchen
  • Hot tub
  • Parking available
  • Outdoor space
  • Air conditioning

Explore the area

Map
Ithaca, NY
  • Ithaca Commons
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Ithaca College
    ‪3 min drive‬
  • Cornell University
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Ithaca, NY (ITH-Tompkins Regional)
    ‪13 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

7 bedrooms (sleeps 14)

Bedroom

1 King Bed

Bedroom

1 King Bed

Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom

1 King Bed

Bedroom

1 Single Bed

Bedroom

1 Single Bed

5 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Bathroom 4

Bathroom 5

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden

About this property

Historic Mansion at Fountain Place in Downtown Ithaca

BEFORE BOOKING, PLEASE READ OUR RENTAL AGREEMENT

Welcome to Fountain Place, a beautifully restored 1890s mansion and the perfect setting to experience the charm and splendor of Ithaca. Designed by William Henry Miller, Cornell University’s first architecture student and one of Ithaca’s most influential architects, this historic home served as the residence for Ithaca College presidents for over 70 years. Impeccably maintained, the mansion features stunning woodwork, unique architectural details, and modern amenities, offering an unforgettable stay.

Features of Fountain Place:
7 Bedrooms
3 Full Bathrooms and 3 Half Baths
Multiple Gathering Spaces: Sunroom, Drawing Room, Living Room, Game Room, and Dining Room
Modern, Fully Equipped Kitchen
Outdoor Amenities: Slate stone patio with a grill and fire pit
Guests have access to the 1st and 2nd floors of the home, while the basement and 3rd floor remain private.

We are on-call to assist with any needs during your stay, ensuring you enjoy the best experience while respecting your privacy.

Prime Location:
Fountain Place is situated in a quiet, central location, just a short walk from Downtown Ithaca and Cornell’s Collegetown. Downtown offers a vibrant mix of award-winning restaurants, unique artisanal shops, and popular theaters. Nature enthusiasts will appreciate the property’s breathtaking view of Cascadilla Gorge and direct access to the Gorge Trail, which leads up to Cornell University’s beautiful campus.

The Finger Lakes region is renowned for its natural beauty, and Fountain Place is the perfect base for exploring its highlights, including the Cayuga Lake Wine Trail, America’s first wine trail, with tours tailored to every taste.

Additional Amenities:
On-site parking for multiple vehicles
Easy access to Ithaca’s excellent TCAT public transportation system
Walking distance to top local attractions
Important Note for VRBO Reservations:
Please be aware that if you cancel your reservation at any time, a 3% fee will be retained to cover credit card processing costs.

We look forward to welcoming you to Fountain Place and sharing the best of Ithaca and the Finger Lakes region with you!

Property manager

Conor Gaffney
Premier Host

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Hot tub
Kitchen
Dryer
Air conditioning
Outdoor space
Parking available

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House Rules

Check in after 3:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 18
Check out before 11:00 AM
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Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
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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
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

About the area

Ithaca

East Hill Historic District, a neighbourhood in Ithaca, is home to this holiday home. Shoppers can check out Ithaca Commons, while everyone can enjoy the natural beauty of Buttermilk Falls State Park and Cayuga Lake. Puddledockers and Sciencenter are also worth visiting.
Map
Ithaca, NY

What's nearby

  • Ithaca Commons - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • State Theatre of Ithaca - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Ithaca Falls Natural Area - 17 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Ithaca College - 3 min drive - 2.3 km
  • Cornell University - 5 min drive - 3.1 km

Getting around

  • Ithaca, NY (ITH-Tompkins Regional) - 13 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Asia Cuisine - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Souvlaki House - ‬9 min walk
  • ‪Bike Bar - ‬6 min walk
  • ‪Moosewood - ‬7 min walk
  • ‪Thompson and Bleecker - ‬5 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Historic Mansion at Fountain Place in Downtown Ithaca pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much does it cost to stay at Historic Mansion at Fountain Place in Downtown Ithaca?

As of 16 Apr 2025, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Historic Mansion at Fountain Place in Downtown Ithaca on 11 May 2025 start from AU$2,404.30, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

What time is check-in at Historic Mansion at Fountain Place in Downtown Ithaca?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Historic Mansion at Fountain Place in Downtown Ithaca?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Historic Mansion at Fountain Place in Downtown Ithaca located?

Located in East Hill Historic District, this holiday home is within a 10-minute walk of The History Center and Ithaca Commons. Cornell University is 1.8 mi (2.9 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 21 out of 22 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 22 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 22 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 22 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Karl L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Reunion wknd
All was great.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Linda E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Perfect base for Cornell move-in
Beautiful and spacious home to stay with family while moving our daughter into Cornell.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Bruce S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Ithaca Visit
Interesting historic home with enough modern updates to please most. Easy walk to plenty of shops and restaurants. Useful kitchen for eat-in breakfasts or dinners. Easy drive to numerous gorges/falls. Very farm to table vibe in the town…
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Clayton K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic property
From booking the mansion to checking out, Ryan did a phenomenal job. I would highly recommend this property to anyone that is staying in Ithaca.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2022

10/10 Excellent

Rich B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great weekend!
Hose worked great for our visit.
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2023

10/10 Excellent

Kari F.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stunning
Perfect property for a bunch of Cornell graduates in their 40s. Plenty of room and ample bathrooms - perfect in every way and an easy walk to both the commons and college town. It will be the top location of choice for years to come.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2023

8/10 Good

Jeff G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place
170 year old home so we understand there are some issues. Oven was not working, yes we used the instructions to turn it on. Did not get hotter than 200 degrees. Second oven saved the day. Other issue was some of the showers and faucets had one temperature and that was 120 degrees. Scalding hot and would not turn down. Beautiful property and fit our needs perfectly.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Maya S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family Reunion
A perfect week in the perfect house for a family reunion. We grew up in Ithaca and then moved away. It was fun to share our home town with our families while staying at a fantastic home base
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

David M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Reunion
We had a great stay at the house. 6 couples back for a Cornell reunion from the late 80s. The house was perfect.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2022

10/10 Excellent

betsy e.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Graduation !
Perfect everything!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022

10/10 Excellent

Amy W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great for parents visiting Cornell
The house was perfect for hanging out while visiting our students. A nice backyard to grill and tons of common space. The only awkward part was the bathroom situation as only 2 of seven rooms have bathrooms and the rest share one. In that one bathroom is a old fashioned tub with only a hand shower. Other than that perfect spot !
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2022

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful family house
We (three families) had a great long weekend at Fountain Place. The house had plenty of room and spaces for all. Excellent onsite host - thank you Jyl !
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2022

10/10 Excellent

Beth O.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Gorgeous mansion!
Fountain Place is a beautiful, serene place. The rooms were superb, lovely views, comfy beds---and our host Vanessa was incredibly helpful, caring, engaging and knowledgable. She made great recommendations- for everything from Indian food to nearby waterfalls and locally owned bookstores! 👍 We had a wonderful time, and all the little touches that Vanessa provided made our stay extremely pleasant and Thank you!
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Dan M., Southampton, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay
Fabulous stay as always. Beautiful home. Great location
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021

10/10 Excellent

Jocelyn G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
informal reunion
Very nice. Would definitely stay there again

10/10 Excellent

Dan M., Southampton, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great spot
Cool historic house only a 5 min walk to Ithaca commons and 7 minutes from Ithaca college. Great stay. Will stay here again
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Bethany B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place!
We had a great time staying in this beautiful home. Sarah was so helpful and friendly. When we had a few issues with the air conditioning, she worked right away to remedy the situation. The property was clean and easy walking distance to downtown!
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2021

10/10 Excellent

Bridget C.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fabulous Property
The mansion was a beautiful property with gorgeous woodwork, detailing and character inside! We had a large group of ladies stay for several days and we had a wonderful time! The home was well-maintained, clean and the kitchen had everything we needed; plenty of dishes, serving platters and cooking essentials were on-hand which was perfect for entertaining and the cookout we held on our last night's stay. We utilized the grill and enjoyed dining al fresco on the beautiful patio. There were plenty of bathrooms, beds/rooms (and even a couple of extra cots) and the location is ideal for walking into downtown Ithaca. I would highly recommend this property to any family or large group who appreciates the love and care that has gone into maintaining the property. We did have a slight issue with no hot water the first evening, but the property manager addressed our concern and corrected the problem the next morning. Two thumbs up!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2021

10/10 Excellent

Dan R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Mini-reunion
After missing reunion due to covid we got together at this beautiful property as a substitute-reunion. The house was perfect for us, we had a blast. Everything is in walking distance (collegetown and Cornell up, Ithaca commons down), and there are many areas in the house to sit and relax. Every bedroom is nice too. And we were asked every day if we needed anything, thanks!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021

10/10 Excellent

Allison B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Amazing stay
My family and I stayed here for the weekend and it was absolutely perfect. The home was beautiful, clean, and spacious, with a great location close to both Cornell and the Commons. Sarah was great in all forms of communication both before and during our visit. Thanks so much!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2020

10/10 Excellent

Hao W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Historical and spacious; great host
Really enjoyed our stay. The house has a long history but is well kept. Well stocked kitchenwares made cooking really easy. Our kids had a lot of fun with occasional deer visits. Sarah, our host, was very responsive and helped us solving an internet issue really quickly, so some of us could work in the house.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2020

About the host

Hosted by Conor Gaffney

Host profile image
We, Ashleigh and Ryan, are the stewards of Fountain Place. Our relationship is one in a million; high school sweethearts from Pennsylvania married in Ithaca at Cornell’s Sage Chapel. Since our wedding day we have dreamed of one day owning 2 Fountain Place. Dreams do come true!

Why they chose this property

There really is no place like Fountain Place. Beautiful woodwork, artisan tile fireplaces that inspired the decor for each room, and expansive grounds to explore and relax in. Located a short walk to Downtown Ithaca and overlooking Cascadilla Gorge. Above all, we pride ourselves on our knowledge of the area and are here to show you to the best Finger Lakes vacation possible!

What makes this property unique

This property allows for families and friends to spend quality time together. The bedrooms are all on the second floor, so the entire first floor provides room after room for quality time together, or quiet time separately. There will be no meeting in the lobby among strangers as there would be in a hotel. The space is perfect for a family holiday or catching up with old friends.

Premier Host

They consistently provide great experiences for their guests