Benn Conger Inn0

When we arrived, the owner Drew personally greeted us and gave us a brief history of the property. He was especially nice and willing to meet our expectations for an exceptional stay. He introduced us to the Inn Keeper; Shelly and she also offered her services to make our stay as pleasant as could be. We found this personal communication to be very reassuring that our stay was going to be an enjoyable one. We stayed in a 2-bedroom suite, which was beautifully decorated, absolutely clean and overall cozy. When we requested a few additional amenities, the reply was immediate. In the evening, Shelly lit the fire pit and guests from both houses congregated. This really was a very nice touch. It created an atmosphere to come together with people you did not know, and a great time was had by all during our 2-night stay. This is not standard operating procedure in a commercially owned hotel. The breakfast each morning was home cooked and delicious. We will certainly be back when we visit our son at SUNY Cortland (it is only a 15-minute drive). Thank you for the wonderful hospitality and attention to detail.

Very stunning place Nice old furniture We stayed for 2 nights We used the Barbecue one night and the fireplace Shelly was super nice and a great help Breakfast was really great

This is such a lovely property. We were in the area for Cornell graduation, and prolonged our stay for some hiking and exploring the finger lakes. It is a very quick and easy drive from the inn to Cornell campus, and Groton is a very nice little town with all you need to have a wonderful trip. The staff at Benn Conger is so responsive and welcoming—it feels like staying with friends or family (but only in the good ways!). My partner and I have already discussed coming back for another trip just to have an excuse to stay here again. If you are exploring the area for business or pleasure or otherwise, this is an incredible gem and delightful alternative to the occasional stuffiness of corporate hotels.

The main house is beautiful with tons of historical decor and art that had a museum feel but in a warm homey setting. Our stay was in the Dempsey house (also beautiful) in the Smith Corona room on the top floor. There is a fire pit with seating between the two houses that the hosts light in the evenings for guests to sit around and enjoy. Our room was very clean and comfortable. It had a huge private balcony facing the back and side of the house that wrapped around the corner of the house and overlooked the beautiful grounds. It was accessable through a set of glass doors in the bedroom and had comfortable seating. The room had a gas fireplace, a king bed, TV, wardrobe, side tables and a comfortable chair. There was also a fully stocked coffee station with a Keurig and bottles of water. The attached bathroom had a Jacuzzi tub/shower combination. The room was quiet and peaceful. We didn't hear any noise from the other guests in the rooms next to us or below, aside from the room doors opening and closing. The hosts were so nice and helpful. Breakfast was amazing! Our breakfast was buffet style with many delicious home made options ranging from eggs benedict, breakfast burritos, a bacon and waffle bake, cinnamon roll French toast, two kinds of muffins, fresh fruit, pumpkin swirl pound cake, juices, coffee, tea, and more. It was served in a beautiful glass enclosed dining room with a view of the grounds. Overall, we had a wonderful stay.

The only small issues were that the doors to the rooms were hard to open, close and lock so they were very loud when anyone had to go in or out (like slamming door loud) and although breakfast was amazing, it was served earlier (between 7:30 & 8:30) than any other B&B I've stayed at. It was explained that the Inn is also an event space and there was an event the day we were there. We were told breakfast is usually from 8-10am, but they serve early when there's an event in the afternoon. Regardless, I would still recommend staying there.

Innkeeper Shelley and manager Drew were both very nice and knowledgeable, checking to make sure we had everything we needed during our stay. The two houses were both beautiful and nicely renovated with continuing improvements. Bedroom, bathroom, and balcony were roomy and well equipped. Lighting, outlets, and temperature control all worked great. Breakfast was fantastic and served very cordially. TV had a nice selection of channels.

Only two aspects of our visit needed improvement. First, the mattress in our particular room was quite hard, and the wife had a difficult time getting comfortable. We recommended to Drew that they consider getting a softer topper, and they were agreeable. Second, there was no shelf or table near the sink in the bathroom - an easy fix.

Great historic inn, well-preserved and appointed. A nice alternative to the big franchise hotels in Ithaca. Good deal through booking.com. The queen room in the Dempsey house was bright, well-designed, very clean and comfortable. Very quiet surroundings. Drew was very easy-going, cheerful, accommodating and helpful. The full breakfast was basic but good.

A bit of a drive from Ithaca - about 16 miles. The parking area for the Dempsey House is a little rough. The view across the street is an abandoned house, though I understand it's been bought by the inn and will be removed. Nevertheless, the neighborhood is very safe and quiet.

Every year on our anniversary we like to explore somewhere new. This year was upper Cayuga Lake region. The Benn Conger Inn was the perfect base camp to explore nearby Aurora on the lake and then enjoy the dining in Ithaca. The inn is a fantastic venue spot and we were imagining how it’s beauty would be even more amplified during the spring and summer. The history is rich and it seeps from the architecture, embellishments and art throughout both buildings. Everything proclaims quality, intentionality and care, from linens to food to staff. We stayed in the Dempsey House and enjoyed having a jacuzzi and fireplace in our room. Impeccable cleanliness everywhere! We were also blessed with a bottle of local champagne and sweet welcoming card for our anniversary from the manager, Drew. Shelley, the innkeeper, is so gifted at everything she sets her heart to there. We very much enjoyed getting to chat with her during our delicious and hearty breakfasts. The family is definitely fulfilling their vision to preserve the splendid historic feel of this idyllic spot and enlarge its impact by bringing guests like us into its embrace. We enjoyed our stay so much!!

If we would have stayed longer, the bed’s extra-firmness would have been an issue for us personally. For two nights we were just fine. Bed firmness is very subjective! Softer king beds get lumps in the middle, so for their purposes, not sure I’d change a thing!

We absolutely loved our stay. The Inn is beautiful and our room was super cozy and comfortable. We had a fireplace and huge bathtub. We were staying over the Easter holiday and the Inn was hosting a big Easter brunch, so they put together a big basket of fruit, pastries, yogurt and other snacks for us to have so we didn’t have to attend. It was so sweet and we were able to have a nice morning picnicking on our deck. The next morning the breakfast was great. We loved our stay and will definitely come back in the future.

This stay was a nice retreat from the busy-ness of our days in Ithaca. It's an easy drive to many restaurants, wineries, breweries, lakes, and hiking paths as well as the proximity to several colleges. The hosts were so friendly and welcoming and breakfast was delicious. There are two buildings on the property and we stayed in a very quiet room with a balcony looking out over the grounds. The owners have just recently taken over the property and everything is being updated gradually but it already has lovely areas for outside gatherings or indoor table games. We were graciously invited to help ourselves to any of the common areas in both houses and on the property.

The village of Groton has very little to offer by way of groceries or restaurants within walking distance.

STUNNING MAIN HOUSE. The owners have vision and just acquired the property which used to be "in the family." Still some updates being made to second house, (Summer 2022) coming soon! Breakfast was five star. The innkeeper is super friendly and rooms were empty so we saw everything and we are impressed. Decor is magazine worthy. Dining room has glass high ceiling. You will feel like royalty here if you stay in the main house. We also enjoyed the fire pit and the spa tub in our room at the second house.

Wish I'd seen the main house before I went to bed - it's a dream come true. I would have spent a lot more time there, but we had to be on our way.