This Inviting New Resort in New York’s Finger Lakes Makes an Ideal Base for an Upstate Getaway

Skaneateles Fields Resort & Spa, a newly opened property with 89 guest rooms and a standout dining program, brings a fresh level of polish to the Finger Lakes hospitality landscape.

A newly opened resort just outside the village of Skaneateles, New York, is filling a noticeable gap in accommodations across the Finger Lakes. With 89 rooms, a destination-worthy restaurant, and an extensive list of amenities, Skaneateles Fields Resort & Spa arrives as a significant addition to a region long admired for its scenery, wine trails, and waterfalls.

The Finger Lakes may not rival Kenya’s Masai Mara, but for travelers with a keen eye, it offers its own wildlife spectacle. In late autumn, deer dart through the fields while red-tailed hawks and bald eagles circle overhead. With patience, visitors might even glimpse a fox slipping quietly between the trees.

That sense of immersion in nature is central to the experience at Skaneateles Fields, a resort tucked among forests and flowing streams just minutes from the lakeside village it’s named for. While the area is best known for vineyards and glacial lakes, the property emphasizes the quieter beauty of the surrounding landscape, inviting guests to slow down and look around.

Although the hotel belongs to Hilton’s Curio Collection, it avoids the uniformity often associated with large brands. Instead, the resort leans into a playful local identity, most notably through its mascot: a red fox named Scout. The character appears throughout the property, from artwork to illustrations on room keycards, depicted bounding through water or trotting happily through the countryside—an emblem of rural freedom and curiosity.

According to general manager Kyle Hares, the inspiration came directly from the environment. “Quite literally there are foxes in this area,” he explains, crediting the team for weaving the surrounding wildlife into the hotel’s design language.

During a two-night stay in October, I didn’t encounter any actual foxes, but I did find the property exceptionally well positioned for exploring a region I’ve visited for decades. The Finger Lakes has traditionally leaned toward inns and rustic lodgings, and while there are notable standouts—such as the Inns of Aurora and the Lake House on Canandaigua—few properties match the level of finish and comfort offered here. Skaneateles Fields feels like a long-overdue evolution for the area.

Hares describes the resort as family-friendly, noting the breadth of on-site activities alongside thoughtfully designed accommodations. He points to a growing appetite for stays centered on experiences, whether wellness-oriented, food-focused, or simply immersive.

Dining is clearly a major pillar of the resort. Fields, the all-day restaurant and bar, is led by chef Esperanza Guzman and supported by an impressive wine cellar stocked with Finger Lakes bottles. The cocktail program was developed by William Elliott of New York City’s Maison Premiere and Tigre, bringing a level of sophistication that feels both refined and approachable.

Much of the kitchen’s produce comes from Tap Root Fields, a nearby sustainable farm. Herbs and edible flowers appear generously across the menu, enhancing dishes like a harvest frittata, smoked beet tartare, and an exceptional koji-brined roast chicken finished with lovage and fresh greens—a dish memorable enough to crave repeatedly.

Beyond dining, the resort offers an extensive but not overwhelming lineup of amenities. Guests have access to a heated outdoor pool, an indoor pool, and multiple whirlpools, along with a fitness center and a newly opened spa featuring seven treatment rooms. Wellness offerings include a salt cave, cold-plunge pool, and barrel saunas. Recreational options extend to a nine-hole putting green, pickleball and bocce courts, and even a small video-game arcade—a nostalgic and welcome surprise.

Guest rooms are decorated with bold graphic wallpaper, vibrant accents, and custom millwork crafted by Artistry in Wood, a Syracuse-based company. My stay in an expansive Lodge Suite included a wet bar, microwave, gas fireplace, and a deep soaking tub, alongside expected comforts like La Colombe coffee and Lockwood bath products.

Families are well considered here. Three specially designed suites known as Fox Dens feature two sleeping areas and two bathrooms, making them ideal for guests traveling with children. There’s also a single presidential suite for those seeking the highest level of luxury. The property includes five ADA-compliant rooms, available with either twin-queen or king bed configurations.

Despite its recent opening, Skaneateles Fields already maintains a full calendar of programming. Guests can join qigong and yoga classes, take part in hosted sports hours on the pickleball and bocce courts, or enjoy live music on select evenings. A sunrise coffee service set up near the golf greens offers an early-morning ritual, while the lobby espresso bar stays busy throughout the day.

Evenings during my visit centered around the outdoor firepits—essential in the crisp fall air—where guests gathered with s’mores kits and cocktails from Fields. After long days of wine tasting and hiking local gorges, there was no better place to unwind than beside the fire, watching the tree line and hoping, once again, for a glimpse of a fox slipping through the woods.

Nightly rates at Skaneateles Fields Resort & Spa begin at $486. Reservations can be made at skaneatelesfields.com.