Romantic Inn / B&B & Couples Getaway in Rochester

Kiss & Tell

Embracing Hospitality Trends at Ellwanger Estate Bed & Breakfast

Welcome to Ellwanger Estate Bed & Breakfast, where we are dedicated to providing our guests with unforgettable experiences that embrace the latest trends in hospitality. From personalized experiences to sustainability initiatives and technological innovations, we strive to exceed your expectations at every turn. Let’s explore how we are addressing these top hospitality trends and what sets us apart.

Personalized Experiences:
We believe that every guest deserves a personalized and memorable experience. Our curated events, such as farm-to-table breakfasts, monthly live jazz on the veranda, solar eclipse viewing, garden tours, and wine and tea tastings (off site), are designed with your preferences in mind. With three acres of woodland and gardens to explore, you’ll find tranquility and beauty around every corner. Our private art collection will captivate the eye and adds intrigue. Whether you’re seeking relaxation or adventure, we tailor our offerings to suit your individual tastes, ensuring that your stay with us is truly unique.

Sustainability:
At Ellwanger Estate, we are committed to sustainability in every aspect of our operations. From repurposing and recycling to organic gardening and composting, we prioritize environmentally friendly practices. Our solar panels harness the power of the sun, while original wood windows and greenhouses enhance energy efficiency. Rain barrels collect water for our gardens, and gravel driveways reduce runoff. By incorporating these sustainable practices, we minimize our environmental impact and create a greener future for generations to come.

Embracing Technology:
While we embrace the charm of a historic estate, we also recognize the importance of modern amenities. Our Tesla car charger and ample cell phone chargers ensure that you stay connected during your stay. Plus, our state-of-the-art massage chair provides ultimate relaxation and comfort. And just in time for the solar eclipse of 2024, we are embracing the technology of high-power binoculars (with filters) to offer a unique and exciting way to experience this celestial event. By blending tradition with technology, we offer the best of both worlds for our guests’ convenience and enjoyment.

Wellness and Health:
Your well-being is our top priority at Ellwanger Estate. From catering to specific meal plans to offering massage services and access to our massage chair, we provide opportunities for relaxation and rejuvenation. Our REC room with table tennis and three acres of walking paths offer plenty of opportunities for physical activity, while our serene gardens provide the perfect backdrop for meditation and birdwatching. With luxurious cotton linens and Prana mattresses, you’ll experience the utmost comfort and restorative sleep. And with our pillow menu, you can customize your sleeping experience to your preferences.

Authentic and Local Experiences:
Immerse yourself in the rich culture and history of our local area with our authentic and local experiences. Join us for monthly jazz jam sessions (not to be confused with Rochester International Jazz Festival), solar eclipse April 8, 2024, or explore our gardens with self guided tours. Just steps away from the Genesee River (boat tour and ROC the riverway festival), Highland Park, and the renowned Lilac Festival, as well as Mount Hope Cemetery (home to Susan B Anthony and Frederick Douglas), there’s always something new to discover right outside our doors.


At Ellwanger Estate Bed & Breakfast, we are dedicated to embracing the latest hospitality trends while staying true to our roots. From personalized experiences to sustainability initiatives and modern amenities, we strive to create an unforgettable stay for each and every guest. We invite you to experience the charm and hospitality of Ellwanger Estate on your next getaway.

Welcome home,
Rosemary Janofsky
Ellwanger Estate Bed & Breakfast

Solar Eclipse Grandeur Experience 2024

Once in a lifetime encounter with the cosmos at the Ellwanger Estate B&B.

In just a few short months, the City of Rochester will be in the path of a truly rare experience — the total solar eclipse in April of 2024. The next one will not happen here until 2144.

On April 8, 2024, a total solar eclipse will occur in Rochester, New York. Rochester is very close to the eclipse centerline, which heads out into the open waters of Lake Ontario just north of the city. This close proximity will result in a very healthy duration of totality for Rochester, about 3 minutes and 39 seconds in the downtown. As is the case with Lake Erie to the west, weather experts think the cold lake waters of Lake Ontario could aid eclipse viewers by preventing clouds from forming above and around the lake. Below, we’ve provided key details about the eclipse in Rochester for locals and visitors planning on viewing the eclipse from that city.

“It will look like a velvet hole in the sky. We’ll see the stars come out around the sun. And 365 degrees around the horizon will be a sunset glow and your world will be forever changed”, said Debra Ross, Chair of Rochester’s Eclipse Task force

Rochester, New York

Solar eclipse 2024 events in Rochester NY

For the eclipse itself, the Rochester Museum & Science Center is hosting a four-day festival, the ROC the Eclipse Festival, between April 5 and 8. The event, expected to draw thousands each day, will include hands-on activities, speakers, music and food at the RMSC campus at 657 East Ave, Rochester. Activities will be held both inside and outside.

The Strong Museum of Play in Rochester is planning a three-day celebration dedicated to playing with light. For example, visitors will be able to create art on a Lite Brite-like board, craft a kaleidoscope and make shadow puppets. The museum will also showcase a display of space-themed toys and games.

The Memorial Art Gallery and George Eastman Museum, both in Rochester, and the Genesee Country Village & Museum in Caledonia are all planning to hold festivals or special events to mark the eclipse, Schneiderman said. Viewing events are also planned to take place at Tinker Nature Park in Henrietta and at Corn Hill Landing, Rochester Public Market and Parcel 5.

A special viewing event dubbed “Total Eclipse of the Port” is planned State University College at Brockport – where the center of the line of totality grazes the university’s football field and passes over Brockport’s High School and Middle School. The location gives Brockport an extra five seconds of totality compared to the City of Rochester and other parts of the region. The event will include food trucks and other activities.

The Town of Perinton has also planned a community eclipse watching party “Total Eclipse of the Park” on April 8 at the Perinton Community Center, 1350 Turk Hill Road, Perinton. The family-friendly event will include swimming, a bounce house, food trucks and other activities.

Dozens of other viewing parties are expected to be organized by community groups, said Schneiderman.

RMSC launched a community eclipse ambassador program to train each of the roughly 50 participant groups in the nine-county region about the eclipse, basic astronomy and eclipse viewing safety. Each group will also be outfitted with equipment, including a telescope with solar viewing filter, educational materials and solar viewing glasses. The groups are each expected to host or assist with a eclipse viewing parties.

traveling eclipse art exhibit by eclipse artist and astronomer Tyler Nordgren will be displayed at a different Rochester area location each month until April 2024. It’s at Flight Wine Bar in Corn Hill Landing in July and will be at the Central Library of Rochester on South Avenue. The exhibit features 30 eclipse posters.

Other events leading up to the April 8, 2024 eclipse will also take place each month around the Rochester region, including talks at various libraries and museums, sky-watching parties and twilight hikes.

“Sleep deeply, live boldly”

Pranasleep

And so often my guests do just that!

Even at the risk of oversleeping and YIKES missing an Ellwanger breakfast.

But when that guest (who overslept) is the CEO of City Mattress/Prana Sleep, who has “never experienced the ultimate restorative night sleep at any other visited hospitality accommodations” (as they simply did not provide Prana mattresses), well then the Ellwanger Estate just move the hospitality bar up a notch or two!

However, Marc Schiller did share the inside scoop: Prana mattresses are coming to the Breakers Palm Beach within their Flagler Club guests rooms November 2023.

It worth taking a look!

Their ultra-exclusive 21 room boutique hotel offers:

~ “private, posh, above else, exquisitely personalized” service

~ Fully dedicated team to attend to every and any need

~ Private lounge

~ Unique food offerings

~ Complete access to the resort property and endless amenities

~ PranaSleep beds

Sound similar? Exactly!

The major difference between the Flagler Club and Ellwanger Estate B&B

Price~ a few thousand per night+ taxes/ vs…just a friction

Yes, they do have a beach.  We have lush woodland gardens, with the most comprehensive tree and plant collection around. Thank you George Ellwanger!

Looking forward to seeing you soon;-)

Flower City: The University Connection

Re-posted 4/29/23 by the Ellwanger Estate B&B

Posted on  by akadri

After the flour boom of the early and mid-19th century died down in Rochester, the city transitioned from being known as the Flour City to worldwide acclaim as the Flower City. This was largely due to horticulturists George Ellwanger and Patrick Barry’s nursery business, which grew from five to over 500 acres between 1840 and 1860, and became the world’s largest nursery in 1888.

Today, much of this land is part of Highland Park, as well as University property, including Goler House, College Town, and various offices. The property also includes the respective residences of the University Provost and President—sites that University Horticulture and Grounds Manager John McIntyre says are utilized for entertaining guests, students, and staff, and are open for public tours. However, what is the significance of this property and its connection to the University, and how has Ellwanger and Barry’s work continued to impact the evolution of the city and the University?

Ellwanger and Barry: plant partners

Under the Beech Tree, Patrick Barry House (Photo courtesy in John McIntyre)

George Ellwanger was born on a small farm in Germany to a vineyardist whose occupation was jeopardized by the Napoleonic wars, harsh weather, and economic crises. In 1835, after having apprenticed for a leading nurseryman and florist in Stuttgart, Ellwanger set sail for America to seek work. On his way to Ohio through the Erie Canal, he stopped at Rochester to unload freight and was “impressed” by the “then-infant city on the Genesee…for its luxuriant vegetation and its favorable location for a horticultural establishment.” By the spring of 1836, he had bought the nursery portion of the Rochester Seed Store’s business in which he was employed.

Concurrently, Irish immigrant and esteemed horticulture writer and editor Patrick Barry also traveled to America. Arriving in New York in 1836, he gained a foundation in American horticulture at the oldest nursery in the States: the Linnaean Nursery at Flushing, Long Island. In 1840, he headed west, and together, he and Ellwanger saw the potential in the still-growing city. In their 1843 catalogues, they noted that the Rochester climate would help plants adapt to harsh weather, the water channels would make for easy trade, and fresh plantings in the West would safeguard species from diseases in older nurseries.

1840-1888: History of the Ellwanger and Barry Nurseries

To say that the Mount Hope Garden and Nurseries were a success would be an understatement. One of the keys to the business’s success was its relentless expansion—Ellwanger and Barry purchased land almost every year, allowed older plant specimens to mature on older land, and planted new plants on new land. This system allowed them to monitor the progress and quality of each stock, and it established them as both the largest and best-quality nursery in the country.

In addition, the enterprise was one-of-its-kind due to its unparalleled variety in flowers, vines, ornamental shrubs, and most notably, fruit trees. One early visitor called the business “the most complete nurseries on the American continent…in which various species are…so fully and so well represented.” The fruit tree ground alone contained nearly 2000 varieties at that point, with each variety painstakingly-catalogued as per the London Horticultural Society’s method of listing and describing plants.

Ellwanger’s and Barry’s international outlook set them apart. Not only were the products of the nursery sent all over the United States—especially during the post-Civil War era—but they were also exported outside the country. Some reports estimate that the nurseries’ shipments in 1887 were valued at half a million dollars, elevating Rochester to the center of the country and indeed, the world’s horticulture. In addition, Ellwanger and Barry travels to and from Europe helped expand their stock, and a landmark feature of their business was their focus on imports of rare varieties. In their second catalogue, Ellwanger and Barry wrote:

“Our purpose is, and has been since the formation of our establishment, to make, here in WESTERN NEW YORK, a collection of fruits unsurpassed by any in the country, embracing every valuable variety of either native or foreign origin, adapted to our soil and climate.”

Ironically, much of Ellwanger and Barry’s sales contributed to the growth of other nurseries in America and worldwide. This, in addition to the shifting interest from fruits and rare plants to flower and ornamental trees, resulted in a decline in orders. By the 1880’s, seedsmen such as James Vick, Hiram Sibley, and Joseph Harris had introduced mail-orders for customers to order seeds through, much to the chagrin of the nurserymen. Although this expanded Rochester’s reputation as the Flower City, times were a-changing, and Ellwanger and Barry’s business failed to survive past the 80’s.

Azalea Mix, Patrick Barry House (Photo courtesy of John McIntyre)

Present-day: the University connection

For University Horticulture and Grounds Manager John McIntyre, Ellwanger and Barry’s work inadvertently ended up influencing his career choices. He isn’t from Rochester, but he learned about the Ellwanger and Barry Nursery during his time at West Virginia University. He says he “appreciates what Rochester meant to the industry that [he] works in.”

McIntyre admits that the Flower City that Ellwanger and Barry knew is gone. “Land became too valuable—it’s more valuable to have homes and industries that are making money, as opposed to a nursery or garden center,” he said. Yet two buildings stand on University property today that were part of this original legacy. The University’s Patrick Barry House, which currently houses the Provost, was built by designs from English architect Gervase Wheeler and was the home of Patrick Barry until his death in 1890. Additionally, 668 Mt. Hope Avenue currently occupied by University of Rochester Press, was built in 1854 as the office building of the Ellwanger & Barry Nursery.

Ellwanger and Barry’s attempts to beautify Rochester and establish parks and green spaces makes it the city that it is today. Their investment in the development of the Flower City’s horticulture, as well as their contributions to the establishment of public transport, continue to have an enduring impact.

Just as what the duo once created has evolved over the years, so have the needs of the property. For the Horticulture and Grounds team, maintaining the horticultural legacy does not simply mean preserving the nurseries; it also means “doing the best we can, just like Ellwanger and Barry.” Gone are the days of encouraging foreign species; McIntyre notes that many of the plants introduced by Ellwanger and Barry are “now considered invasive in some places.” While the team does make it a goal to plant native plants, they do not opt for invasive species.

Although there are scant remnants of the project that propelled Rochester to international fame, the nursery industry is still integral to the city. McIntyre comments that there are a “lot of really good nurseries and seed suppliers in the area.” Having traveled to various other universities across the mid-Atlantic, he knows that many institutions don’t have the option of buying local. The University of Rochester, on the other hand, “buys local plant material about 99% of the time.” This unique reciprocal relationship speaks to the enduring value for flowers and trees in the area, and illuminates both the University’s role in keeping the Flower City image alive, and Ellwanger and Barry’s long-lasting impact on the city’s identity and industries.

Groups interested in doing walking tours of the Ellwanger and Barry property can contact John McIntyre at jmcinty6@facilities.rochester.edu.

Written by Syeda Mahnoor Raza (’24)

Top Photo: Perennial Gardens, Patrick Barry House (Courtesy of John McIntyre)

Why 2023 Is The Year to Visit Rochester

By Visit Rochester Staff 

If Rochester isn’t on your list of upcoming travel destinations, it’s time to make some room on your itinerary. (We are listed among the best places to travel in 2023 by INSIDER, after all!)

Rochester, and all the people, places and events that make it great, is ready for your visit in 2023. We consider ourselves: a food-lover’s paradise, offering tastes of every flavor throughout the city; the king of festivals; a hub of historical sites and destinations; and the getaway spot you didn’t know you needed.

And while the city has already been buzzworthy for major events like the upcoming 2024 total solar eclipse, Rochester will only get more love in the new year. Many annual events will be returning in 2023, and there are also new attractions and restaurants joining the ranks of Rochester’s list of places to go.

WHAT’S NEW IN ROCHESTER IN 2023

  • 2023 PGA Championship. In May 2023, Rochester’s prestigious Oak Hill Country Club will play host to the 2023 PGA Championship, marking the fourth time the PGA’s premier event will be held in Rochester at Oak Hill. The greatest golfers will descend on Rochester May 18-21, 2023. More info: https://www.pgachampionship.com/
  • Opening of Expansion at The Strong Museum of Play. The top children’s museum in the country happens to find its home in Rochester, NY. The Strong National Museum of Play is the only museum in the world dedicated to the exploration and discovery of play. And beginning in 2023, The Strong will have even more to offer visitors with the completion of a transformative expansion. The heart of the all-new Neighborhood of Play will be The Strong’s 90,000-square-foot expansion which will house state-of-the-art guest amenities and a 24,000-square-foot interactive gallery.
  • Neighborhood of Play. In the shadow of The Strong Museum, a new neighborhood, the Neighborhood of Play, has been built up in the footprint of the former Inner Loop. The new neighborhood offerings include housing, commercial space, planned retail – including a new brewery, a gaming themed restaurant, new hotel and more. Also just steps away from The Strong, visitors will find the newly opened Tasting Room for Strangebird Brewing, which was recently named the 2022 Brewery of the Year in New York State Craft Beer Competition.
  • Black Button Distilling Expansion and New Distillery. Rochester’s Black Button Distilling was the first distillery to open in the area since prohibition, when it first opened in 2012. Now ten years in business, Black Button recently announced plans to expand its production space and tasting room to University Avenue in Rochester’s Neighborhood of the Arts. The new facility, which will renovate a historic building (built before World War I) into a 28,000 sq. foot distillery. Black Button will move to its new location in summer 2023. 
  • Expansion of Rohrbach Brewing on Railroad Street. As Black Button Distilling prepares to move from its current home near Rochester’s Public Market to its new space, the move presents an opportunity for Black Button’s current neighbor, Rohrbach Brewing Company to expand its existing space. Rohrbach is Rochester’s first craft brewery, serving craft brews since its opening in 1991. The expansion will allow for more production space for the pioneer in the Rochester’s growing beer scene, as well as event space and more seating for guests in its Railroad Street Beer Hall, adjacent to the Rochester Public Market – one of the oldest and largest markets in the country.
  • Development alongside the Erie Canal in Fairport NY + Empire State Trail. The Empire State Trail connects New York State, from Buffalo to NYC. In the Rochester area, the trail is comprised of the Erie Canalway Trail. The Rochester area is home to several canal side communities, including the picturesque village of Fairport. In Fairport, visitors will discover a new entertainment district known as The Cannery, which was once the home of the American Can Co. The 62,000 sq. foot structure was originally constructed in 1908, and today is home to two breweries, a distillery and several different restaurants.  

 What’s not to love!