Hannum House/Sherwood Inn- Skaneateles, NY

I am not a winter person. I cannot stand cold weather, and by that I mean anything under 70. Skaneateles and the Hannum House during a snow storm made me a temporary convert. It was an Hallmark movie come to life, and I absolutely loved every second of it.

First came the Sherwood Inn, built in 1807 as a tavern by Isaac Sherwood, which acted as the headquarters of his stagecoach business. The inn changed hands and names many times over the years, and even served as a temporary hospital during the the 1918 Influenza epidemic. In 1974, Bill Eberhardt, the current owner, purchased the Inn, which had returned to its original name in 1945. Today, the inn offers 25 rooms, many with stunning views of Skaneateles Lake. Unquestionably, it is a solid historic hotel choice. For those who want a more intimate experience, book next door at the Sherwood Inn’s sister property, the Hannum House.

Constructed in 1840 by local foundry owner and two time Village president Spencer Hannum, it served as his personal residence for over twenty years. The property was later purchased by the owner of the town’s dry good store, Norman Orlando Shepard, who transformed the lakefront home from a single level Greek Revival to a two story Colonial Revival. In 1923, it was converted to a duplex for Shepard’s son, whose lost his home in a fire.

Around 1982, the owner of the Sherwood Inn, Bill Eberhardt, purchased the property; he used the ground floor space for retail, with Sherwood Inn office space upstairs. Although Eberhardt always envisioned converting the space into hotel rooms, renovations over at the Sherwood Inn always took precedence. Finally, in 2016, his vision was realized; the 5 room Hannum House opened, following nearly a year of construction.

Although completely remodeled, many original elements were retained, such as the windows, woodwork, and staircase. Additionally, local artists stenciled the walls, to provide an aged aesthetic. The rooms are furnished with Stickley furniture, and original John D. Barrow landscape paintings, but also contain every expected modern convenience. Room 3, with its stunning lake views and gas fireplace, was the perfect refuge from the freezing temperatures and raging snow storm outside.

The Hannum House’s common areas are also absolutely perfect, and include a library with fireplace and a sunken sitting room. During out stay, we had the entire house to ourselves, and it felt like a luxurious country retreat. It could not have been cozier, or more welcoming. While I will never like winter weather, my trip to Skaneateles and the Hannum House was the closest I have ever been to enjoying it. Inside, it was an absolutely perfect stay. I certainly look forward to returning some summer.