Skaneateles Fields Resort & Spa Opens in New York’s Finger Lakes

It’s not quite the Masai Mara of Kenya, but the Finger Lakes region of New York is a paradise for wildlife spotters. In the late fall, the deer are running and the red-tail hawks and bald eagles are on the hunt. And, if you really look carefully, you may even spy a fox prowling through the woods.

At least, that’s the story at the Skaneateles Fields Resort & Spa, a new escape hidden amid the forests and streams of upstate New York. Located a few minutes from the village of Skaneateles, the new property promises access to the natural beauty of the region that’s perhaps best known for its wineries and waterfalls, not to mention those gorgeous glacial lakes.

The new 89-room hotel is part of Hilton’s Curio Collection, but it’s no cookie-cutter retreat, a point driven home by the fact that Skaneateles Fields is filled with depictions of its mascot, a red fox named Scout. He seems to embody the joy of being in the countryside, bounding, swimming, and trotting in drawings on the back of room keycards.

“Quite literally there are foxes in this area,” says Kyle Hares, the general manager of the hotel, who credits his team for taking inspiration from the local fauna.

During my two-night stay in October, I didn’t spot any real foxes, unfortunately, but I did find Skaneateles Fields to be an excellent home base for exploring the region, which I have been visiting for decades. In fact, the hotel struck me as a much-needed addition to the hospitality scene in the Finger Lakes, which tends toward more rustic types of accommodation; with a few notable exceptions, such as the excellent Inns of Aurora and the luxurious Lake House on Canandaigua, there aren’t many places that can compete with the quality of what Skaneateles Fields delivers.

“We’re a family resort,” Hares says, pointing to the many activities and amenities on property, in addition to comfortable rooms. “There’s a demand for experience-driven stays, whether it’s focused around wellness or food and beverage.”

I certainly found food to be a centerpiece of the ambitious property: Fields restaurant is an all-day dining room and bar helmed by chef Esperanza Guzman, with a considerable wine cellar stacked with local labels and a cocktail program designed by William Elliott of Maison Premiere and Tigre, in New York City. Guzman partners with a nearby sustainable farm, Tap Root Fields, to source a good share of the produce on the menu. That includes herbs and edible flowers, which are showered with considerable abandon on dishes such as a “harvest frittata,” smoked beet tartare, or a phenomenal koji-brined roast chicken with lovage and fresh greens that I would be happy to eat every night for the rest of time.

The hotel also has a long list of resort-y amenities, though it would be a stretch to call it a full-bore, everything-to-everyone destination. A heated outdoor swimming pool, an indoor pool, and multiple whirlpools complement a fitness center and a new spa with seven treatment rooms plus all the latest on-trend amenities, including a salt cave, a cold-plunge pool, and barrel saunas. There’s a putting green with nine holes to challenge amateur and experienced golfers alike. A small video-game arcade is a nice addition to the recreation options; that’s something that I don’t see much anymore but would love to find more often.

The rooms are clad in stylish graphic wallpaper, pops of color, and gorgeous carpentry from Artistry in Wood, a millwork in nearby Syracuse, New York. My oversized Lodge Suite, Room 253, had a wet bar, a microwave, a gas fireplace, and a stunning soaking tub, in addition to the standard room amenities such as La Colombe coffee and Lockwood bath products. Three specifically designed family suites, known as Fox Dens, of course, are an excellent option for those traveling with little ones, with two sleeping areas—and two bathrooms!—to keep everyone sane. A single presidential suite is available for those who want to truly ball; the property has five ADA-compliant rooms, with the choice of twin queen or king configuration.

I was pleased to find Skaneateles Fields has, despite being new, a robust lineup of programming, including qigong and yoga classes, hosted “sports & rec hour” on the pickleball and bocce courts, and occasional live music nights. A “sunrise coffee” service served outdoors by the golf greens is a nice touch before the day gets going—and the espresso bar in the lobby gets busy. Evenings, during my stay, revolved around the outdoor firepits, which were essential given the fall chill in the air, with a s’mores kit and a cocktail from Fields in hand. There was no better place to be after a day of wine tasting and gorge hiking in the area than cozied up by the fire, keeping my eyes on the tree line, hoping to spot a fox in the distance.

Rooms at Skaneateles Fields Resort & Spa start at $486/night, and you can book at skaneatelesfields.com.