THE BARROW HOUSE
34 State Street
Skaneateles, NY 13152
LUXURIOUS INN & RESIDENCE FOR SALE
Step into a piece of Skaneateles history in the heart of the Village where heritage meets modern luxury with effortless grace. This 1832 Colonial was the lifelong home to famed Hudson River School painter John D. Barrow. 34 State’s prime yet remarkably private location is both an elegant single family residence and a distinguished boutique historic inn offering an array of opportunity for a discerning buyer. Over 4,700 square feet present an entertainer’s dream and seamlessly unfolds across seventeen rooms, every finish, furnishing, improvement and detail has been considered. The kitchen boasts not only scale but fine craftsmanship and entertaining flows into a formal dining room, dual living rooms with fireplaces, plus two bespoke wet bars and an exquisite half bath to round out the entertaining space. The sleeping quarters include five bedrooms featuring four oversized guest suites each feature separate sitting areas, private baths; the primary suite offers three walk in closets, a spa like bath, and private laundry. Outside find your private oasis in any of the three exterior sitting areas in two stately porches and a spacious bluestone patio offer places to relax. All this just steps to the lake and village amenities yet feeling a world apart. Extensive renovations and improvements along with being offered fully furnished presents a rare opportunity to acquire not only a gracious home ideal for entertaining but also one of only three homes authorized with a Special Use Permit for nightly rental in the Village of Skaneateles. A savvy buyer will appreciate the pied a terre or summer home potential, with the option of built in estate management and income that helps give peace of mind and offset carrying costs even in one’s absence. Whether envisioned as a primary residence, a refined summer retreat or an income-producing inn, what distinguishes 34 State is not only its past but its potential. Picture how you will position yourself into this stunning space as few addresses in the Finger Lakes so elegantly unite rich heritage, turnkey effortless income along with room for growth.
Why This Property is Especially Valuable
This offering is more than just a private residence; it carries a rare and highly coveted Bed & Breakfast license in Skaneateles. That distinction adds significant value because:
Scarcity of Licenses
Local municipalities are strict about short-term rental regulations. Few private homes are permitted to operate legally as lodging establishments.
A license for short-term stays of up to three guest rooms per night is not easily obtained, making this property one of only a handful with such a designation.
Income Potential
The owner can generate steady supplemental income while still enjoying the property as a single-family residence.
In Skaneateles, where tourism is strong year-round, average nightly rates for quality accommodations are high, making even three rooms a profitable venture.
Flexibility & Dual Use
You can use it strictly as a private residence, or partially as an inn, giving you lifestyle flexibility.
Unlike most short-term rental properties, this is a legally sanctioned operation, so there’s no risk of fines, shutdowns, or legal disputes with the town.
Market Differentiator
This isn’t just a house, it’s a licensed opportunity to combine private living with income-generating hospitality, in one of New York’s most desirable lakefront villages.
When reselling, this dual-use status sets the property apart from conventional single-family homes.
Buyers seeking both a home and a lifestyle business will see added value and uniqueness.
HISTORY
John Dodgson Barrow (1824–1906) was an American portrait and landscape painter closely tied to the Finger Lakes region, especially Skaneateles, New York. Born in New York City, he moved with his family to Skaneateles in 1839, a place that became the inspiration for much of his work. He later studied art in England, then returned to New York City, where in 1856 he opened a studio next to renowned portraitist Charles Loring Elliott, whose influence shaped Barrow’s portrait style. Barrow personally sketched Abraham Lincoln during his historic Cooper Union address in 1860.
Barrow’s interest in landscapes grew through his connection with George Inness, a prominent Hudson River School painter. Barrow became associated with the “second generation” of the Hudson River School, known for atmospheric renderings of light and natural beauty. Between 1852 and 1879, his paintings were featured in nineteen Annual Exhibitions at the National Academy of Design, as well as at the Boston Athenaeum, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and the Union League of New York.
In the 1880s, Barrow returned to Skaneateles permanently. He continued painting, taught at Syracuse University, and wrote poetry and art criticism. In 1900, he personally designed and funded the John D. Barrow Art Gallery to showcase his work. Today, the Gallery holds more than 300 of his paintings and remains a cultural landmark in Skaneateles. Additional works are displayed at the Onondaga Historical Association and the Onondaga County Public Library in Syracuse.
Barrow’s former home at 34 State Street in Skaneateles remains a refined single-family residence where several of his works are preserved, and, with a special permit and license allowing limited nightly rentals, offering guests an intimate, historically inspired luxury inn experience with private suite accommodations.
