Hotel in Watkins Glen crowns waterfront work

The dream that many people envision for the Keuka Lake Waterfront is becoming a reality on the southern tip of Seneca Lake in Watkins Glen, where village and Schuyler County officials have worked together over the past several years to develop a park with a marina, and pier.

Private businesses have brought attractions and restaurants to the area and there are plans for new housing nearby.

But the latest addition to the waterfront is the Watkins Glen Harbor Hotel, a four-story 104-room hotel overlooking Seneca Harbor Park and offering an expansive view of Seneca Lake like no other.

Watkins Glen Mayor Judy Phillips remembers working on panels and committees focusing on the dreams and plans for the waterfront nearly 35 years ago, and now that the hotel is in place, she’s impressed.

“It means so much. It’s a phenomenal facility and it seems to be bringing a lot of activity to the village,” she says.

The hotel, operated by Hart Hotels, based in Orchard Park, opened in mid-summer, and guests have been booking rooms steadily since. It was built in partnership with the Krog Corporation, which also is involved with the condominium project in Hammondsport on the southern end of Keuka Lake.

And people aren’t waiting to visit just on weekends. During a visit on a recent Thursday afternoon, the staff were busy preparing for another full night, and a newlywed couple was just getting ready to check out after celebrating their small wedding at the hotel.

Diane Van Fossen of Pennsylvania said she and her husband Wayne knew they wanted to get married in Watkins Glen. When she started looking for places to stay, she found the hotel on the Internet by accident.

They said the staff at the hotel went above and beyond their expectations. “I know what good service is, and believe me, we had it here,” she said.

Amber Degner, director of sales, (and a Penn Yan resident) says the sales have exceeded all expectations.

The hotel, which is just steps from downtown Watkins Glen and the Watkins Glen State Park is a few miles from Watkins Glen International, and is a convenient starting point for a tour along the Seneca Lake Wine Trail.

The décor of the hotel is upscale casual and features cool, relaxing colors and accents that fit perfectly with the lakeside setting. All the guest rooms have hardwood floors that give a clean, uncluttered feel to the accommodations.

The room options include Jacuzzi suites, lakeview rooms with balconies, and two-room suites. The Commodore and Admiral Suites offer the ultimate in lakeside leisure, with commanding water views from their fourth floor balcony.

The Grand Ballroom, which can accommodate 300 guests, is specially outfitted with double doors to the outside so an automobile — think race cars — can be brought into the space.

The Blue Pointe Grille restaurant and bar features expansive lakeside patio seating in addition to the traditional restaurant atmosphere.

A stone fireplace in the lobby will be the perfect place to warm up during a winter visit, and a patio firepit is available for an evening by the lakeside.

The hotel experience is enhanced by the indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi, fitness center with a lake view,  high speed wireless Internet service, on-site concierge services a business center and smaller meeting rooms.

The Watkins Glen Hotel is the latest major piece to improvements that have been made to the waterfront over the past few decades.

Schuyler County and Watkins Glen village officials, along with private developers and businesses have worked together to bring a mix of recreation, attractions, and lodging to an area that was previously commercial and industrial.

With the addition of the hotel, there are now three restaurants and a dinner boat cruise, tour boats, a marina, shopping, and wine tasting opportunities all within a few steps of the waterfront and downtown Watkins Glen.

Plans are coming together for the next addition to the area: a condominium project that will bring residential units to an area just east of the hotel and marina.

Phillips says the developer is still positive and she understands potential residents are already expressing interest. “I’m very positive something will happen. It’s an overgrown and underused area of the waterfront,” she says.

For more about the hotel, visit its website at www.watkinsglenharborhotel.com.