Cook Mansion Bed & Breakfast

The bedrooms felt cozy, and each had its own bathroom with a shower or tub. The kitchen was spacious and well stocked, too. This is a grand historic mansion with lots of rooms to wander through and modern comforts. It has a slightly spooky feel if you enjoy imagining all the people who lived and loved there. Highly recommended.

Cascade falls is right in the backyard, and Watkins Glen is close by. Inside, the place is clean and modern, with plenty of bedrooms and bathrooms for a big group. The one thing to plan around is the limited hot water tank when everyone showers at once.

We were 14 and all comfortable for our three-day Thanksgiving reunion and Secret Santa exchange. The house is very old but well cared for and clean, and the waterfall in the backyard was the icing on the cake. Each bedroom has its own bathroom. There’s a huge kitchen with two stoves, plus two dining rooms with big tables that worked well for board games and cards. We also had a parlor and a living room. For groceries, we went to Tops in Montour Falls, where we’d pre-ordered a 20-pound fresh turkey. There are more shops in Watkins Glen to the north and Horseheads to the south. We all had a wonderful time.

Chris was a great host, both in how he looks after the house and with his knowledge of the area. We used the place as a base for hiking and would happily return. The house has really interesting architecture and history, and a waterfall about 100 yards away adds to its charm. It’s also well situated between Watkins Glen and Ithaca.