Experience Serenity at AURA, a historic converted Church

Experience Serenity at AURA, a historic converted Church

Photo gallery for Experience Serenity at AURA, a historic converted Church

Beautiful AURA in the spring
View of great room
Beautiful view of Lake Cayuga across the street
Stairs up to choir loft
Interior

Overview of Experience Serenity at AURA, a historic converted Church

4.8 out of 5 Exceptional

Popular amenities

  • Hot tub
  • Free WiFi
  • Air conditioning

Check out the area

Aurora, NY
  • Popular LocationCayuga Lake1 min walk
  • Popular LocationWells College5 min walk
  • Popular LocationLong Point State Park - Finger Lakes5 min drive
  • AirportCortland, NY (CTX-Cortland County)53 min drive

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Angel Bedroom

Bell Tower Bedroom

Choir Loft Bedroom

Downstairs Bedroom

2 bathrooms

Choir Loft Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Downstairs bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo

Main floor Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub · Toilet · Jetted bathtub · Shampoo

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Experience Serenity at AURA, a historic converted Church

You deserve to treat your senses, your spirit, and your well-being at AURA, a historic converted 19th century Church. Enjoy a night, a weekend or a week in a place of peace, serenity and meditation. Reconnect with family and friends. Enjoy the Finger Lakes, wine and beer tasting, farm to fork food, play in Lake Cayuga, explore Wells College campus and discover how wonderful the experience of sleeping in a church can be. Come to AURA. Find yourself. Leave refreshed, relaxed and rejuvenated.

Have you ever dreamed of spending the night in a classic church? Well, its time to wake up from your dream and into reality. This unique location will truly impress your senses. AURA is a historic church building which has been artistically converted into a grand residence, nestled in downtown Aurora, New York. It is now available for you to experience.

There is always a reason to celebrate family, friends and good fortune. At AURA we take guest safety very seriously and strive to make your stay, whether a night or a week, as comfortable and secure as possible. Caring for ourselves remains extremely important. Mental health is intimately connected to physical health and treating oneself to a stay in a beautiful peaceful setting does wonders for both!


AURA is all this and more:

-Serene, unique location
-Ideal for a meditative retreat, peaceful weekend, or a place of serenity and solitude
-A place of reflection
-Great for romantic getaways, retreats, and family reunions.
-Unique place for family and friends to get together, share time and make memories.

The sense of tranquility and awe overtakes all who enter the doors of this architectural gem.

- AURA has beautiful soaring cathedral ceilings, hardwood floors and stained glass windows, all within carefully crafted masonry brick and stone walls.
-Modern improvements:
*Gourmet kitchen with granite countertops and
new appliances, dishes, glasses and cookware to help you prepare a
special meal for two or a group.
* Four bedrooms that sleep 8 comfortably
* Spacious open concept living room with big
screen Smart television, magnificent surround sound
system, and full size competitive pool table which easily converts to
Table Tennis
* Wii available for entertaining the teens and tweens
* A baby grand piano also graces the main living
area for those musicians in the group, tuned and ready to play
*Comfortably air conditioned and heated with new HVAC system
*Completely renovated bathroom downstairs with sit-in rain shower and steam feature
*Relaxation room with two chaise massage chairs and Bluetooth enabled CD player for a calming experience

Three floors of living space:
-Main floor:
Two bedrooms and one bath with oversize tub. Larger bedroom with two queen beds (The "Angel" room), smaller bedroom in original bell tower with full size bed and star ceiling.
Lovely, well-appointed kitchen in the old altar
niche
Large open living room with comfortable couches and loveseats, inviting conversation and relaxation. Large cloud beanbags offer kids and adults alike a place to read and drift away
-Lower floor:
Beautifully remodeled bathroom with rain shower/steam feature, washer and dryer for guest use
Relaxation room with chaise massage chairs and CD player
Bedroom with queen bed and comfortable linens in soothing earth tones
-Upper floor (old choir loft) :
Open concept bedroom with claw foot bathtub
Private adjoining bathroom with shower in bell tower
King size bed with fluffy down comforters
-Outdoor area with fire pits, comfortable rockers and dual barbecue. Perfect for relaxing outside with a glass of wine while your meal is cooking.

-Located in the registered historic district of Downtown Aurora, a small village in Upstate New York. Aurora itself is a village (pop. 724) that contains a brewery, lively pub, historic museum, café, fine dining restaurant, free public library/Opera house, the world famous McKenzie-Childs art studio and mansion, and more.
-Part of the Finger Lakes wine and beer trail, a 210 mile interconnecting drive passing by over 200 wineries, 75 breweries, pubs, and cider houses.
-Creameries, restaurants, roadside stands and lots of antique shops to explore.
-Wells College, a small four year liberal arts university, is a five minute walk from the church.
-The Inns of Aurora, a wedding destination, is a five minute walk and houses a world class restaurant. The Spa at the Inn is open and available to book for treatments. There are also miles of hiking trails around the spa with beautiful lake views.
-Lake Cayuga is just across the street, and easily accessible via multiple public docks, one of which is a short one minute stroll away.
-Farmers market is available at the Wells College boathouse from Spring to Fall and offers fresh Mennonite baked goods, local honey, garden produce and farm eggs as well as a few food stalls.
-Local wineries offer live music and events on weekends.
-Many waterfalls and beautiful hiking trails are available within an hours drive
-Kayaks and canoes may be rented locally for fun on the lake

Amenities provided include all dishware and glassware, pots, pans, coffee maker, coffee grinder, microwave, Insta Pot/Rice cooker, blender, and toaster. Basic seasonings such as salt, pepper and a few spices are available. All beds have fluffy down comforters (with allergen protection covers for allergic guests) and feather pillows (down alternate pillows available). Bathrooms are equipped with thick towels and shampoo/body wash. All linens are washed in hypoallergenic soap with no dyes or fragrances. Umbrellas are available for your comfort for those sudden spring and summer showers. Beach towels and lifejackets may be borrowed if you would like to take a dip in the lake.

Entrance to AURA is via a unique 4 digit code (that you will be given shortly before your stay) which is deleted after each guest stay.

This property is nonsmoking and the policy will be strictly enforced. There is a tenant in the basement apartment so please be courteous. Noise curfew is at 9 pm outdoors and 10 pm inside and neighbors will ensure that this is enforced! **Please note that due to problems with excessive noise, a charge may be levied if neighbors complain and police are called. We want to maintain good relationships with our neighbors. You are welcome to celebrate and enjoy your stay but please be respectful of others nearby!

Discount notes: The cleaning fee of $180 will be decreased to $150 with parties of 2. A last minute discount of 25% will be applied to any bookings within 7 days of check in. This will be noted on the booking calendar. Please contact Patti for other special discounts as well as special holiday rates.

The careful and masterful conversion and restoration has been a large undertaking, and maintenance and improvements are constantly ongoing. We invite you to experience AURA. All proceeds from your special stay will go toward the continued funding of this historic Church. We are extremely proud to share AURA with you. Thanks for helping us achieve this.

Please note that this is an 1800's historic building. Although it has been renovated and updated, many original features remain. The floors may be uneven and there are stairs up to the choir loft and down to the basement. Hand rails have been placed for your safety. There are step-downs to the main floor bathroom and the choir loft bathroom. Both have hand rails. Older guests with mobility issues may wish to consider this when reserving. The Church is not handicap equipped although many modifications have been made for those with mobility challenges. Children are always welcome but the Church is not childproofed for very young children.

Distances to Attractions:
Ithaca/ Cornell University - 36 minutes
Syracuse/ SYR Airport- 64 minutes
Rochester, NY / ROC Airport – 77 minutes
Buffalo, NY / BUF Airport -2 ¼ hours
Niagara Falls – 2 ½ hours
Toronto, Canada – 4 hours
Newark, NJ / EWR Airport – 4 hours
New York City, NY – 41/3 hours

Property manager

Patti
Premier Host
Premier Host

Amenities

Hot tub
Free WiFi
Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 20
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0-17
Not suitable for infants

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted
Please note that ONLY registered guests may stay at AURA. This policy is in place to respect our neighbors and to protect this historic building.
AURA is located in a residential neighborhood. You must be courteous to neighbors. Strict noise curfew from 9 pm to 9 am
Excess cleaning fee of $150 will be charged for leaving premises excessively dirty or moving furniture and not replacing it.

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Safety features at this property include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, and a deadbolt lock

We should mention

A car is required for transportation to and from this property

About the area

Aurora

Located in Aurora, this castle is on a lake. Peter Whitmer Log Home and It's A Wonderful Life Museum are local landmarks, and the area's natural beauty can be seen at Cayuga Lake and Long Point State Park - Finger Lakes. Kayaking, motor boating, and fishing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with hiking nearby.

What's nearby

  • Cayuga Lake - 1 min walk
  • Wells College - 5 min walk
  • Long Point State Park - Finger Lakes - 5 min drive
  • Cayuga Lake State Park - 34 min drive
  • Thirsty Owl Wine Company - 50 min drive

Getting around

  • Ithaca, NY (ITH-Tompkins Regional) - 44 min drive

Restaurants

  • Dugans Country Grill - 11 min drive
  • Fargo Bar & Grill - 4 min walk
  • Inns of Aurora Resort & Spa - 4 min walk
  • Cream At The Top - 12 min drive
  • The Grind - Wells College's Student Run Cafe - 11 min walk

Reviews

4.8

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 5 - Excellent. 27 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Good. 4 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 3 - Okay. 2 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Poor. 0 out of 33 reviews" "
Rating 1 - Terrible. 0 out of 33 reviews" "

4.5/5

Cleanliness

4.9/5

Check-in

4.9/5

Communication

4.9/5

Location

4.8/5

Listing accuracy

Reviews

5/5 Excellent

Tala E.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Book it!
We enjoyed our stay here. The church is kept in great condition and has modern amenities. Definitely recommend staying here!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2023

5/5 Excellent

Emily D.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Our stay in Aurora
This place was better than the description, it was fabulous! It is a comfortable, inviting home with a jacuzzi and steam shower! It still reveals a church setting with a home setting. Our only regret was that we only had one night to enjoy this home in quiet Aurora!
Stayed 1 night in Jul 2023

5/5 Excellent

Anna S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Convenient spacious spot
3 couples had plenty of room in a unique property right in town. Right across from lake, great biking. Attentive hosts.
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2023

5/5 Excellent

Connor M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
outstanding property
I stayed here and the pictures don’t do it justice, this place is huge and looks amazing, definitely worth the drive and will be staying again
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

5/5 Excellent

Brian S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place in a great town
We stayed for a long weekend in conjunction with Cornell's graduation. The property is very unique and fun for a group. The town of Aurora is spectacular and the drive to and from Ithaca is convenient. The check in / check out process was seamless and property was clean and ready for us when we arrived. Patti responds quickly and thoroughly. We are already trying to figure out when we can stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in May 2023

About the host

Hosted by Patti

Host profile image
A fun loving family with deep respect for the outdoors and nature's beauty. We fell in love with AURA the first time we saw it and have lovingly restored this beautiful 19th century church to allow others to experience its grace and serenity.

Why they chose this property

The property has been featured in several publications. Sleeping in a Church is an amazing experience! Aurora is a small village and perfect for a weekend getaway, a family vacation, or a yearly retreat.

What makes this property unique

This is a once in a lifetime unique opportunity to experience beautiful classic architecture in a lovely setting. Sunsets over Lake Cayuga are breathtaking.

Premier Host

Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests
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