The Inns of Aurora is a luxury lakeside boutique resort in the Finger Lakes Region of New York, located within easy walking distance of Aurora’s elm-lined Main Street. At the charming Inns of Aurora, guests enjoy farm-to-table cuisine, and a range of events and activities. The resort’s offerings include private yoga classes, hiking, bicycling, contactless painting workshops, kayaking excursions, demonstration kitchen, and nearby wine tastings.  

The resort is also home to the Spa at the Inns of Aurora, delivered by Rasa Spa. This 15,000-square-foot wellness center offers thoughtfully curated experiences designed to promote healing and harmony from within, with an extensive menu of treatments designed and delivered onsite by Rasa Spa, the region’s leader in holistic healthcare and healing therapies.

Set on 350 acres of rolling farmland, the Spa sits in a trio of connected barns just above the historic Village of Aurora. With expansive views of Cayuga Lake, the Spa is surrounded by vistas filled with alfalfa and lavender fields, serene ponds, and scenic nature trails. Award winning global design firm Hart Howerton led the planning, architecture, and interior design of the Spa, honoring the site’s farming origins with a composition of agricultural structures that welcome guests with breathtaking views of the surrounding bucolic fields and Cayuga Lake. Inside, subtle farm-inspired architectural elements are juxtaposed against more than 50 pieces of  exceptional modern art hand-selected by Pleasant Rowland, founder of the Inns of Aurora, from her personal collection — including works by Tom Wesselmann, Jennifer Losch Bartlett, and Helen Frankenthaler.

We caught up with Rachel Hogancamp, Founder and Managing Partner of Rasa Spa, to learn more about the Spa at the Inns of Aurora. 

Why You’ll Love It:  As our wellness philosophy is inspired by Ayurveda, we’ve found many of our guests are looking to partake in a long-lasting wellness journey that remains beyond their visit. We have also heard feedback from guests about how they appreciate that we place emphasis on supporting each individual on their wellness journey, with a focus on healing that begins from within. With an extensive menu of treatments, our Red Flower Hammam body treatment, Abhyanga massage, and Rasa signature massage have been front-runners. We’ve also started to see an increase in bookings and inquiries for our multi-day retreats, which shows us guests are ready to begin a transformative wellness journey. 

Key Features:  The Spa features 15,000-square-feet of indoor and outdoor space and is set on 350 acres of farmland, sitting above the historic Village of Aurora and overlooking the pristine Cayuga Lake. The Spa features six hydrotherapy spa pools (two indoors and four outdoors), multiple meditation spaces, a sun-filled salon and manicure/pedicure room, a retail boutique featuring products from our partners and a curated collection of handmade goods from local artisans, ten treatment rooms (four of which are enhanced with fireplaces) single-gender steam rooms, saunas, and changes areas, and gender-neutral areas including a co-ed outdoor sauna pavilion and an all-gender changing space.

At the center of the Spa is the café, where guests can enjoy complimentary seasonally-inspired food & beverage offerings at the grazing table throughout the day. The café is only accessible to Spa guests. Espresso drinks, kombucha, beer, and wine are available on tap and can be enjoyed in the bright indoor café or on the outdoor heated patio enhanced with heated floors, firepits and warming benches. 

The Spa is also currently in the application process to receive WELL Certification, the premier standard for advancing human health and wellbeing in buildings globally, as the facility features an innovative design like geothermal ventilation and heating, lighting control systems, and an acoustic design that provides noise separation throughout the interior.  

Bonus: Upon entry to the Spa, each guest will receive a hydrotherapy circuit card that goes with the treatment they will receive— small enough to fit in the pocket of their robe — with a suggested itinerary. Hydrotherapy circuits are recommended often at both the start and end of treatment to maximize the benefits of each treatment. Throughout our initial market research, we found many spa-goers found it a challenge to know how to spend a full day at the spa and where to go. We developed this technique to streamline the process and make it simple for both seasoned and new Spa guests alike.

Insider’s Tip:  As the Spa focuses on providing a transformative wellness experience, I recommend guests visit the Spa once every season to take in a multitude of seasonal experiences, like breathing in the crisp fall air while taking a mindful walk through the nature trail or exploring the sights and scents of blooming spring flowers and lavender while enjoying hydrotherapy treatments outdoors. We also offer seasonal treatments, like our Seasonal Scrub that incorporates fresh in-season herbs to support the body’s transition from one season to the next. If guests are only able to visit once a year, we recommend a visit in the winter to help them end their year on a high note and feel refreshed for the year ahead. 

Spa Snacks: Guests can enjoy complimentary single-plated, seasonally-inspired food and beverage offerings at the Spa Café, as well as espresso drinks, kombucha, beer, and wine available on tap. There are comfortable indoor and outdoor seating options, as well; the outdoor seating area features heated floors, seating, and fire pits to keep warm and comfortable.  

Signature Treatments: We specialize in curating a personalized wellness journey for each guest, starting with an understanding of what makes them unique and, from there, developing a carefully thought-out holistic experience to integrate healing that remains long after they depart the Spa. Our extensive treatment menu was intentionally created to support this goal, and offers energy work, massage therapy, and multi-day retreats. A stand-out treatment I always recommend is the Rasa designed Ananda Hot Oil Scalp treatment, a blissful, grounding treatment designed to stimulate hair growth, clear hair follicles, and revitalize the scalp.

Insider’s Favorite: My favorite treatment is our Rasa Signature massage as it is intended to have each practitioner meet their client right where they are that day. This treatment – and all of our treatments – can be personalized for each guest based on their individual needs whether it’s to attend to an injury, leave feeling deeply relaxed, or create a sense of being more grounded and embodied. Our team at the Spa does a fantastic job at truly listening to each guest before and during their sessions to curate treatments based on their goals, sensitivities, and preferences.

Wellness Offerings: In addition to the Spa, the Inns of Aurora is well-known for their extensive wellness offerings. Laura Coburn, the resort’s Director of Serenity, is licensed in the science of Ayurveda and is also a 200-hour yoga and Reiki master. Laura leads guests in group and private restorative yoga and meditation sessions, essential oil and organic tea blending classes, and offers tarot card readings and Ayurveda consultations. Guests looking for a tranquil escape into nature will enjoy private fishing and archery lessons led by resident Outdoorsmen along the 3.5-mile outdoor trail system or kayaking excursions on the lakefront led by the Outdoor Adventure Guide

Featured Brands: Some of the lines we have partnered with include Eminence Organics, Red Flower, Circadia, and Surface. Since Rasa opened 15 years ago, Eminence has been our main skincare line due to their handmade and organic foundation. Yael Alkalay, founder of Red Flower, brings incredible integrity and heart into each product, making her a perfect fit as well. Circadia’s philosophy of skincare is centered on the body’s circadian rhythms, aligning with our focus on natural ebbs and flows found within the body, and utilizes paraben-free preservative systems. In the Salon, we partnered with Surface for our haircare products as they utilize natural, organic ingredients and have a strong focus on giving back to their communities. 

In addition to the extensive product lines from our featured skin and haircare partners, we offer a carefully curated collection of products made by local artisans in the Spa’s boutique. Guests can find pottery hand-made by local artist Jasmine Crowe, stationery that has been letterpress-printed by hand in by Robert Lomoscalo, and hand-crafted fine jewelry by Lainey Papageorge. We also offer custom-printed journals feature Ginkgo leaves on their covers harkening to the stand of Ginkgo trees on the property to remind guests of their treasured time in Aurora

Featured Brands: Some of the lines we have partnered with include Eminence Organics, Red Flower, Circadia, and Surface. Since Rasa opened 15 years ago, Eminence has been our main skincare line due to their handmade and organic foundation. Yael Alkalay, founder of Red Flower, brings incredible integrity and heart into each product, making her a perfect fit as well. Circadia’s philosophy of skincare is centered on the body’s circadian rhythms, aligning with our focus on natural ebbs and flows found within the body, and utilizes paraben-free preservative systems. In the Salon, we partnered with Surface for our haircare products as they utilize natural, organic ingredients and have a strong focus on giving back to their communities. 

In addition to the extensive product lines from our featured skin and haircare partners, we offer a carefully curated collection of products made by local artisans in the Spa’s boutique. Guests can find pottery hand-made by local artist Jasmine Crowe, stationery that has been letterpress-printed by hand in by Robert Lomoscalo, and hand-crafted fine jewelry by Lainey Papageorge. We also offer custom-printed journals feature Ginkgo leaves on their covers harkening to the stand of Ginkgo trees on the property to remind guests of their treasured time in Aurora

Featured Brands: Some of the lines we have partnered with include Eminence Organics, Red Flower, Circadia, and Surface. Since Rasa opened 15 years ago, Eminence has been our main skincare line due to their handmade and organic foundation. Yael Alkalay, founder of Red Flower, brings incredible integrity and heart into each product, making her a perfect fit as well. Circadia’s philosophy of skincare is centered on the body’s circadian rhythms, aligning with our focus on natural ebbs and flows found within the body, and utilizes paraben-free preservative systems. In the Salon, we partnered with Surface for our haircare products as they utilize natural, organic ingredients and have a strong focus on giving back to their communities. 

In addition to the extensive product lines from our featured skin and haircare partners, we offer a carefully curated collection of products made by local artisans in the Spa’s boutique. Guests can find pottery hand-made by local artist Jasmine Crowe, stationery that has been letterpress-printed by hand in by Robert Lomoscalo, and hand-crafted fine jewelry by Lainey Papageorge. We also offer custom-printed journals feature Ginkgo leaves on their covers harkening to the stand of Ginkgo trees on the property to remind guests of their treasured time in Aurora.

For more information, visit innsofaurora.com and follow @innsofaurora on Instagram.

The Inns of Aurora
391 Main Street
Aurora, New York 13026
315.364.8888
reservations@innsofaurora.com