Downtown Ithaca is celebrating the official opening of the Argos Inn, a beautifully restored, LEED-certified historic mansion in the heart of the city. The Downtown Ithaca Alliance and City of Ithaca Mayor Svante L. Myrick will host a ribbon cutting ceremony at the inn (408 East State Street) on November 18, 2013 at 1:30 PM. Proprietor Avi Smith and General Manager Carly Hansen warmly invite the public to attend the ceremony and stay for tours and refreshments immediately following.
The mansion was built in 1831 by Jacob McCormick, the fourteenth President of the Village of Ithaca. It later served as the headquarters for the Duncan Hines Institute co-founded by the nationally renowned media executive Roy H. Park. The recently completed restoration showcases this historic building’s meticulously-restored wood, stone, plaster, brick, and glass details. Rejuvenating these classic architectural elements has made the space feel fresh, new, and vibrantly alive.
Argos Inn boasts 10 impeccably designed guest rooms and will soon open a public cocktail lounge and accept engagements for private events. Modern amenities include low-voltage LED lighting, heated bathroom floors, geothermal heating and air conditioning, and free fiber-optic internet service. The inn is appointed with refurbished 19th century furnishings and a fine collection of original art pieces by locally and nationally renowned artists.
Argos Inn’s central downtown location is ideal for visitors seeking convenient access to Cornell University and Ithaca College. It is just steps from the Commons, Ithaca’s famous pedestrian mall that features scores of one-of-a-kind retail shops, eateries, and personal care services. Downtown Ithaca is also a launching point for the Finger Lakes wine trails and is surrounded by magnificent waterfalls and gorges.
The downtown Ithaca community welcomes Argos Inn as the first of several exciting new lodging options in Ithaca’s urban core. Joining Argos Inn in 2014 will be a full-service Marriott Hotel and restaurant on the Ithaca Commons and a renovated and reimagined hotel and conference center at the current Holiday Inn site. Together, these existing and proposed projects represent a 91% increase in the number of hotel beds in downtown Ithaca and reflect the region’s burgeoning appeal as a tourist destination known for outstanding cultural events, shopping and dining, and outdoor recreation.
Says Gary Ferguson, Executive Director of the Downtown Ithaca Alliance, “the Argos Inn is a treasure for our community and we expect it to be well-received by visitors seeking a unique, top-quality lodging experience. This project also recognizes the hard and meticulous work of owner Avi Smith to take an old and neglected property and convert into a historic masterpiece.”
Argos Inn is now accepting reservations for all guestrooms. Please call 607-319-4437 for information and bookings. Argos Inn also welcomes walk-ins for tours and in-person service.
