Canandaigua, NY (August 14, 2020) – The Lake House on Canandaigua, a new Finger Lakes hotel created by the Sands Family, has officially opened its doors to guests following its first phase of development. The hotel, designed by New York-based firm Studio Tack in collaboration with family-owned design house The Brooklyn Home Company, presents a residentially inspired and design-forward hospitality experience, creating a new destination for travelers seeking an active wellness retreat in Western New York.
The property currently offers room availability to guests in its Main House with dining accommodations at the reimagined Sand Bar. Additional spaces at the hotel will open this fall, including more guest rooms in the North and South Cottages, restaurant Rose Tavern, the Event Barn and The Lake House Spa by Soveral. The hotel will also offer a pool and hot tub, gym and yoga room, library, meeting rooms and a newly constructed 40-slip boat dock.
“Having grown up with Canandaigua Lake as my backyard, it is an honor to extend my home to our guests with The Lake House on Canandaigua,” said co-developer Bill Caleo, a founder of The Brooklyn Home Company, a co-designer of the project. “Canandaigua means ‘the chosen place,’ and we have selected the location I believe is the most beautiful in the world to open our hotel. We aim to revitalize travel to the Finger Lakes with this project, which will bring unprecedented quality and experiences to the area.
Legacy
Formerly a beloved motor lodge located on the base of Canandaigua Lake, The Lake House on Canandaigua is a ground-up, multi-building property owned by the Sands family. The project was envisioned by The Brooklyn Home Company, led by Bill Caleo, his sister designer Lyndsay Caleo Karol and her husband artist Fitzhugh Karol. The development of the hotel is led by Caleo and Doug Bennett, grandchildren of Marvin and Mickey Sands, founders of the Canandaigua Wine Company. The work of Fitzhugh Karol is prominently displayed throughout the property, from exterior sculptures to distinguishable motifs exhibited in multiple furnishings including the beds in each guest room.
Accommodations
The Lake House on Canandaigua will be a first-of-its-kind destination for the area. With Canandaigua Lake as its majestic backdrop, The Lake House on Canandaigua was designed for 70 percent of the 125 rooms to have lake views. Accommodations offered at the hotel include king and double queen rooms in each of the three buildings.
The 109,745-square-foot events campus can serve small happenings for 50 people, weddings for 250 guests, or 500-person conferences (though New York state guidelines currently limit gathers to 50 people). Suitable for all four seasons, the venue allows for indoor-outdoor festivities with a breathtaking view of the lake. The hotel is currently accepting bookings for weddings and other personal and professional events.
Rose Tavern & Sand Bar
The signature restaurant at The Lake House on Canandaigua, Rose Tavern, will provide an elevated dining experience for out-of-town guests and locals alike. Rose Tavern will officially open to hotel guests on September 1 and the general public on September 8. Rochester native Scott Riesenberger will serve as executive chef at The Lake House on Canandaigua, leading the hotel’s food and beverage programming at the Sand Bar, Rose Tavern, the wedding venue and additional room service and common area dining.
The Sand Bar, which was named for Mickey and Marvin Sands, which opened to guests in July, is a lakeside bar on the hotel property that has been a community staple for decades. The reimagined bar includes personal touches from the Sands’ grandchildren Bill Caleo and Lyndsay Caleo Karol, including the suspension of a vintage boat from the ceiling of the main bar. The piece is a restored Peterborough wooden motorboat from 1954.
Programming & Experiences
Activities for all ages are offered by The Lake House on Canandaigua to highlight the lake and natural beauty of the surrounding Finger Lakes region. Experiences offered include waterfall, historical and technical hikes, outdoor yoga, kayaking, boating, water sports and fishing. The Finger Lakes area is known for its wineries, waterfalls and gorges, as well as its museums and integral role in the history of the Suffragette movement.
As an alternative to the journey by car from NYC, the hotel is offering sea plane transportation packages from NYC’s East River to Canandaigua Lake, which will deliver guests directly to the property in less than one hour.
Sustainability
The Lake House on Canandaigua boasts numerous elements in an effort to reduce its ecological impact. The state-of-the-art project will be one of the only hotels in the United States fully operated by geothermal power, which is the highest standard of sustainability for heating and cooling. Canandaigua Lake and the surrounding region is known for its water purity, and guests of the hotel will be provided with sparkling and tap water sourced locally. The use of plastic will be dramatically reduced at the hotel and its adjacent event spaces.
Safety
As The Lake House on Canandaigua prepared to open for the first time this summer, the health and safety of guests and staff is the top priority of the management team. Steps are being taken to ensure each building at the hotel is safe, sanitary, and germ-free. A comprehensive new property-wide program has been developed to provide guests with the highest level of safety. From masks provided to guests and staff members, to on-site social distancing measures, the program represents the substantial commitment to protecting guests, staff members, and the surrounding community by implementing a broad range of safety precautions. These policies are subject to change, as the team adapts to policies implemented by local and state government agencies.
For more information on The Lake House on Canandaigua and its new safety policies and procedures, or to book a stay, please visit: lakehousecanandaigua.com.
