Entire home

Historic Home at Sheldrake in the Finger Lakes.

Photo gallery for Historic Home at Sheldrake in the Finger Lakes.

A large, two-story house with a porch and a chimney.
A porch with white columns, green rocking chairs, and a view of a house with an American flag.
A grand staircase with ornate carpet and a wooden handrail, leading to a room with a framed historical painting and a hanging lantern.
A dining room with a wooden table, six chairs, a chandelier, and floral wallpaper.
A kitchen with wooden cabinets, a stove, and a window.

Reviews

10 out of 10, Loved by Guests
Top 10% of guest reviews in this area

Highlights

  • Your own private chef
    One of the few properties offering private chef services.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Cayuga Lake

Popular amenities

  • Barbecue
  • Air-conditioning
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet
  • Washing machine
  • Onsite parking available

Explore the area

View map
Ovid, NY
  • Place, Sheldrake Point Winery
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, Cayuga Lake
    ‪5 min walk‬
  • Place, WeBeTilin' Studios
    ‪11 min walk‬
  • Airport, Ithaca, NY (ITH-Tompkins Regional)
    ‪52 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 8)

Bedroom 1

1 King Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 4

1 Queen Bed

3 bathrooms

Bathroom 1

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 2

Soap · Bathtub · Toilet · Shower only

Bathroom 3

Soap · Toilet · Shower only

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Outdoor play area
Garden

Add dates for prices

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About the area

Ovid

Sheldrake, a neighbourhood in Ovid, is home to this holiday home. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Cayuga Lake and Taughannock Falls State Park. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's going on at Dick Van Dyke Addiction Treatment Center, or consider a night out at Trumansburg Fairgrounds. With power boating and fishing nearby, you'll find plenty of adventures in the water.
View more Holiday homes in OvidOpens in a new window
Map
Ovid, NY

What's nearby

  • Sheldrake Point Winery - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • Cayuga Lake - 5 min walk - 0.4 km
  • WeBeTilin' Studios - 11 min walk - 0.9 km
  • Seneca Lake - 14 min drive - 20.1 km
  • Cornell University - 39 min drive - 48.3 km

Getting around

  • Ithaca, NY (ITH-Tompkins Regional) - 41 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪McDonald's - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪Giovanni's Gourmet Pizza - ‬8 min drive
  • ‪Pat’s Pizzeria - ‬9 min drive
  • ‪O'Malley's - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Aurora Ale & Lager Co. - ‬61 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Historic Home at Sheldrake in the Finger Lakes. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

How much is parking at Historic Home at Sheldrake in the Finger Lakes.?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Historic Home at Sheldrake in the Finger Lakes.?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Historic Home at Sheldrake in the Finger Lakes.?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Historic Home at Sheldrake in the Finger Lakes. located?

Located in Sheldrake, this holiday home is within a 5-minute walk of Sheldrake Point Winery and Cayuga Lake. WeBeTilin' Studios is 0.4 mi (0.7 km) away.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 28 out of 28 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 0 out of 28 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 28 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 28 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 28 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Property conditions & facilities

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The home was exactly as described and was absolutely stunning. Karl and Pat are great hosts. We throughly enjoyed our stay and loved the homemade bread they had made for us.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved staying in this beautiful historic home. There was plenty of room for our family. The hosts were very sweet and hospitable. The location was close to the lake and other attractions.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 28 July 2026
Thank you for the great review. We enjoyed having you stay and hope you can return sometime. Safe travels home.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Girls weekend in the Finger Lakes and we couldn’t have picked a more beautiful & relaxing place to stay. Loved eating breakfast on the porch and walking to the lake for a swim. House is lovely & beds very comfortable. Plenty of bathrooms for four women too. Very large and well appointed home. The homemade bread was such a delicious treat! Hosts were easy to communicate with and available if needed. Thank you Karl & Pat. Hope we will be back!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Aug 2026
Thank you for the great review. It was delightful to have you at the Gables for your girls reunion. Come back anytime.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved how well taken care of this wonderful historic home was.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Oct 2025
Thank you for a great review. We appreciate it. Come back and see us again. Safe travels.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Fantastic stay!! We were in the finger lakes for a wedding and the location perfect. The owners of the house were delightful- highly recommend staying there.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Wonderful historical property!

Just lovely Very close to lakePeaceful and tranquil
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent location, superb property and super nice hosts! We will definitely return
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 2 Sept 2025
Thanks for the great review. We look forward to hosting you again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great Stay

This was an incredible stay. Everything you could want as if it were your own home. Our only regret is, we couldn't stay longer!!
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 3 July 2025
Paul & Jennifer, Thanks for reviewing your stay on VRBO. Nice. Don’t regret you couldn’t stay longer, come back again any time. We’d love it
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
The pictures don't do this place justice - it's so, so beautiful. The hosts we're extremely welcoming and the house had absolutely everything we could have needed. I would give it more stars if I could, our group loved it!
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 29 Oct 2025
Thank for such a nice review. We are so glad you love the Gables at Sheldrake as we do. Come back!
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Long weekend at the Sheldrake

Historic home well situated.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, property conditions & facilities, communication
This house was warm, clean and comfortable. Everything you would want in a charming house. We enjoyed our stay!
Stayed 3 nights in Nov 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
It's almost impossible to put into words how amazing the house and the owners are... but here's a try.The house was incredibly welcoming and felt like we had lived here for years. While it is a large house, it never felt like we were lost in it or like there was 'too much'. The beds were incredibly comfortable, there were entertaining and quiet place galore, there was history everywhere you looked... and best of all there were BOOKS in every room. In short, it was perfect!!How can I describe the Messmers without sounding dramatic? They are just like the house... warm, welcoming, and felt like we've known them forever. We were greeted warmly when we arrived, given a thorough walk-through / tour, and were immediately made to feel like old friends returning for another stay. Any issues we had were dealt with immediately and without a 'put upon' attitude like so many owners. Oh, and can Mrs Messmer BAKE!!!Summed up, our stay was perfect. My single regret is that we have to leave. Another day or week sitting on the porch, enjoying their hospitality would be anywhere enough.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 12 Oct 2026
Wow! Such nice words to hear. We try hard to make the Gables a place to feel at home and welcome. Thank you for expressing it like you did. And thank you for leaving it in such great shape upon your departure. Pat and I hope you will return. Til then , we wish you the best.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Good, convenient.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Lovely, welcoming and comfortable!

From the moment we reserved the property, Karl and Pat were welcoming. From the homemade baked goods to the well stocked kitchen, laundry and bathrooms, everything was perfect! The house and surrounding area had lots of fun, little hidden gems!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Response from VrboOwner on 22 July 2025
Thank you for the great review. The mugs you left behind are on the way.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Excellent place to stay.

The Gables had everything needed on hand. Plenty of bedrooms and a nice porch to enjoy the evenings outside. A large kitchen and dining room. Also, a nice sitting room to relax and watch TV upstairs.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 14 Aug 2023
Thank for reviewing your stay at the Gables. We are glad you enjoyed it and found our accommodations comfortable. Please consider us again if you return to the area.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Waterfalls

Beautiful historic home close to several waterfalls. Nice quiet location. Walking distance to lake. Enjoyed breakfast on a large porch.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 3 Aug 2023
Thanks for your review and feedback. If you come back to this area again please consider us again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Perfect!!

Beautiful historic home, comfortable, spacious, impeccably clean and great location very close to the venue where our niece was married. Karl greeted us on arrival to explain a few things and was very responsive when we needed anything. I highly recommend this place and would stay here again in a heartbeat.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 7 Sept 2024
Very nice review. Thank you. Pat and I are gratified to know our guests enjoyed their stay at The Gables. Come back to see us .
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A great experience.

This is a great home for a family to get away from it all. Clean, large house with all the amenities. We enjoyed sitting outside on the wrap-around front porch, plenty of space for everyone. Not too far from Cornell, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and highly recommend this rental.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 28 May 2024
Thanks for the great review. Much appreciated. Come back and see us again sometime.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Beautiful, historic home!

This home is AMAZING!!! History in every room, primo location - close to the lake, wineries and only a 30 minute drive to Ithaca! The owners were so thoughtful- they even welcomed us with homemade assorted sweet breads! The house was clean and inviting. It was stocked with all necessary supplies, including towels! We will definitely be staying here again and would highly recommend it for a family gathering!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Family Reunion

Property was centrally located allowing us to enjoy both Cayuga and Seneca lakes. Karl and Pat were very congenial hosts. We enjoyed the loaves of bread that Pat had baked. Being an 1850's house it had a lot of interesting nuances that we all enjoyed investigating. If in the area again we would definitely consider staying at the Gables at Sheldrake.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 22 Oct 2024
Thanks for the great review. Hope to see you again.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gorgeous home in a perfect location

This place is even more gorgeous in person. My friends and I enjoyed everything about our stay. Learning the history of the house and its owners added to the enjoyment. Our hosts were responsive and welcoming. The front porch was our favorite hang-out spot. I also appreciated the quality of the beds and bedding…comfortable beds and more than enough blankets and pillows. Thank you again!
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 11 Aug 2023
That was a great review you gave us. It’s very satisfying to know that our guests enjoy our home. Thank you and please consider us again if you return to the area.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Comfortable and convenient location

We attended a wedding at Cayuga Shoreline and the Sheldrake home was conveniently located for our planned group of 8 (4 minute drive). We had an unexpected issue so we ended up having only 3 people stay at the property. The beds were very comfortable, the kitchen was well stocked and the owners who live next door responded very quickly when we asked about beach chairs, delivering them within 15 minutes. The kitchen is a bit dated but it served the purpose, and everything worked as it should. The porch was a great place to have coffee in the morning. We stopped at the Sheldrake winery for a wine tasting, went to Taughannock Falls State Park and Cayuga State Park, both within 30 minutes. We ate at Wolffy's deck overlooking Cayuga Lake and enjoyed music at the boat bar at lake level. Overall, we enjoyed our stay at the Sheldrake house.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 17 July 2024
Thank you for your review. We are glad you enjoyed your experience at the Gables even though not all of your party were able to come. Perhaps next time.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Loved The Gables

We had five family members staying at the Gables for a college graduation. The home is as charming as it looks, and we had a wonderful time here just a few blocks from Cayuga Lake. Karl and Pat went above and beyond to help make our stay comfortable and memorable, from the baked blueberry and lemon loaves, to helping us find a way to charge our EV each night. For those with mobility issues, it's good to know that one set of stairs in the house is steep and the risers quite narrow, and there is currently no first floor bedroom. This is because the house is still a tribute to its rich history, much of which you can learn from the photos and maps gracing the walls, as well as the excellent summary books of the area in the front parlor. Being able to walk down and take a dip in the lake was a welcome bonus, and the entire neighborhood is a delight to explore. In short, we had an outstanding visit at the Gables, and will certainly check in with Pat and Karl when we're next near Ithaca.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 12 June 2023
Thank you for reviewing your stay. We’re glad you enjoyed your visit to the Gables. We appreciate your kind words and helpful suggestions. Hope to see you again.😀
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Epic family vacation

We loved this large house with living room, dining room, family room, and 2 staircases. Enough room for everybody around the dining room table, and 2 dining tables on the large wraparound porch for everyone to relax at. A gorgeous house with really cool historic features. A terrific location near multiple wineries and the lake right nearby. Took the wine boat tour around the corner about a blocks walk. Took us to multiple wineries on this side and across the lake. A nice grill and even a farm stand a half mile up the road that had the best produce. Enjoyed the lovely green lawn and had epic badminton battles while others sipped mimosas on the porch. Everyone from the 24 year olds to our 86 year old mother was comfortable here. We will be back! Pat and Karl could not have been more helpful, offering us advice on what to see and do and when we were short an egg one night, even providing two from their kitchen next door.
Stayed 7 nights in Aug 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 27 Aug 2024
John thanks for the great review. We want people to come enjoy our beautiful home and area like you did. We look forward to seeing you again when you can. Have a wonderful year. Karl and Pat
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Pat and Karl were the gracious and available hosts of this beautiful property. The home is historic and steeped in old-world craftsmanship and local lore, yet open, airy, comfortable and set where the Milky Way galaxy is unencumbered by light pollution of any kind. Truly a beautiful and relaxing area. The home was very well appointed with everything needed to provide a comfortable and turn-key stay from rockers on the wrap-around porch, to the cast-iron pot for cooking the family a big pasta dinner, to the myriad of TV/Movie channels available for a rainy day. Very well done. Very highly recommended. Sheldrake is the perfect home base to explore the Cayuga area and relax in very authentic and historic comfort.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2026
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Sept 2026
It is very gratifying to hear that our guests enjoy the Gables like you did. Thank you. We hope you will return.
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