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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

  • Hot tub on site
  • Onsite parking available
  • Kitchen
  • Laundry room
  • Air-conditioning
  • Deck or patio

Explore the area

View in a map
Ithaca, NY
  • Place, Cascadilla Gorge Trail
    ‪2 min walk‬
  • Place, Ithaca Commons
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, State Theatre of Ithaca
    ‪6 min walk‬
  • Airport, Ithaca, NY (ITH-Tompkins Regional)
    ‪16 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!
Our prices include all fees. No hidden fees.

Add dates for prices

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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

Property # 7704924
This property is managed by a private host (a party not acting within their trade, business or profession). EU consumer law, including the right of withdrawal, will not apply to your booking. The cancellation policy set by the private host will cover your booking.
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. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's going on at Newman Arena, or consider a night out at Schoellkopf Field.
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Map
Ithaca, NY

What's nearby

  • Cascadilla Gorge Trail - 2 min walk - 0.2 km
  • Ithaca Commons - 5 min walk - 0.5 km
  • State Theatre of Ithaca - 6 min walk - 0.6 km
  • Ithaca Falls Natural Area - 18 min walk - 1.5 km
  • Ithaca College - 4 min drive - 1.8 km

Getting around

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

Restaurants

  • ‪Asia Cuisine - ‬4 min walk
  • ‪Bar Argos - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪El Chamo - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Revelry Yards - ‬5 min walk
  • ‪Jimmy John's - ‬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 11 Jun 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Historic Mansion at Fountain Place in Downtown Ithaca on 15 Jun 2026 start from £1,093, 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.

How much is parking at Historic Mansion at Fountain Place in Downtown Ithaca?

On-site parking is available at the property.

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 Cascadilla Gorge Trail and Ithaca Commons. Cornell University and Cayuga Lake are also within 3 miles (5 km).

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. 22 out of 23 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 23 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 23 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 23 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 23 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

10/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Karl L.

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

Reunion wknd

All was great.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2024
Verified

10/10 Excellent

marybeth s.

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

Beautiful property close to Cornell

We stayed with extended family here and the house was perfect. It had everything you needed if you were to cook and eat at home, very well appointed kitchen. The linens and beds were very comfortable. it had so much space even with many people there it never felt cramped. Beautiful property
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2025
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Response from VrboOwner on 28 Aug 2024
Hey Jeff!! Thanks for staying with us again! I’m so sorry to hear the oven wasn’t getting hot. I will look into this right away. Also odd about the showers. I’ll check that out as well. Wish you’d notified me during your stay so I could’ve gotten both things handled while you were with us. Regardless thanks for the feedback, and we hoped to host you again in the future.
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

betsy e.

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

Graduation !

Perfect everything!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2022
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dan M.

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

Great stay

Fabulous stay as always. Beautiful home. Great location
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2021
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Jocelyn G.

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

informal reunion

Very nice. Would definitely stay there again
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Dan M.

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

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
Verified

10/10 Excellent

Elizabeth S.

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

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
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