Cornerstone Victorian is a bed and breakfast located in Warrensburg, New York, housed in a Victorian-style building that dates back to the early 1900s. The bed and breakfast offers various amenities to its guests, including a five-course breakfast, hot cocoa, coffee, tea, and other beverages. In addition to being a pet-friendly establishment, Cornerstone Victorian is also child-friendly, but the owners note that the rooms are not “baby-proofed.” Quiet hours are enforced at 9:00 p.m., and smoking is not allowed inside the building. According to Jay—one of the owners—the property mainly receives older couples and families. Jay and his wife, Brittni, aim to create a welcoming and comfortable atmosphere where guests can feel "at home."
The Cornerstone Victorian is a Queen Anne Victorian-style inn with five guestrooms, all of which are located on the second floor of the building. The property features a garden area with a private fenced yard, seating areas, and a fountain. There is also a barn on the property that is typically used for storage. The inside of the property features original hardwood, paneling, molding, and stained glass. Each guestroom has its own ensuite bathroom, reclining chairs (except for the garden chamber), a TV with Dish Network, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The Eastlake Chamber and Masters Chamber are the most popular rooms, according to Jay, one of the owners, with the former featuring a jetted tub and heated tile flooring and the latter having a wood-burning fireplace and private balcony.
Guests have access to public spaces on the first floor, including the foyer, dining area, and seating areas for board games and puzzles. The innkeepers' quarters are primarily on the first floor and in the basement, while two long-term tenants occupy the third-floor apartments with a private entrance. Situated on slightly over an acre of land, the Cornerstone Victorian offers a walking trail through the garden area. The innkeepers plan to reopen the corner shop, an area offering antiques and collectibles, sometime in September or October of this year. Other potential activities on the property include playing cornhole, beanbag toss, or croquet in the garden area during suitable weather.
Each morning, guests are served a five-course breakfast in the dining room. The breakfast menu includes a rotating selection of fruit, coffee cakes, appetizers, and main courses, as well as a build-your-own parfait option for the third course. Patrons can choose between sweet and savory options for the main course, and the hosts make an effort to accommodate dietary restrictions provided that they are given prior notice.
At the Cornerstone Victorian, the owners want their guests to consider their property a “home away from home,” says Jay, one of the owners. He additionally notes, "Mainly, I just want guests to feel at ease, to feel welcomed, and to feel like they can enjoy the spaces on their own, whether that's enjoying it as a retreat or enjoying it as a place where they can rest their head while they're out all day skiing or enjoying Lake George." The bed and breakfast offers a variety of amenities, including hot cocoa, coffee, tea, and other beverages, to try and make their guests feel comfortable. Those who have previously stayed at the bed and breakfast often comment on the hospitality of the owners as well as the history of the home and the breakfast served each morning. One former patron said, “Jay and Brittni are great hosts; friendly, efficient, making sure your needs are met. The 120-year-old house is well-maintained, nicely furnished, and spotless with real wood moldings, floors, doors, beams, stairs, paneling, etc. Great wrap-around porch with flowering plants throughout.”
The Cornerstone Victorian has a few policies that guests should be aware of before booking their stay. Firstly, the property is a non-smoking establishment, but smoking is permitted in designated areas away from the doors and windows. The bed and breakfast is also pet-friendly and child-friendly, but the owners note that the rooms are not “baby-proofed,” and they cannot provide pack-and-plays or other baby equipment for liability reasons. Jay says, “We're a family ourselves. We want to be able to have families come through and enjoy it with their young kids just as we would.” Finally, there is a quiet time after 9:00 p.m., and the side entrance is locked starting at that time; however, guests who have already checked in can use a combination to come and go as they please.
The bed and breakfast is open year-round, with the busiest season most commonly occurring during the summer months for those looking to hike the trails in the Adirondack Mountains, according to Jay. He also remarks that patrons often come to the area to enjoy skiing, shopping at the outlets, and visiting Fort William Henry. Some local eateries that Jay recommends include Mikedo Sushi, The Pizza Shop, and Rue Bistro Room.
The Cornerstone Victorian is a notable bed and breakfast located in Warrensburg, New York. Built in 1909, the Victorian home was originally a private residence that was eventually transformed into a bed and breakfast in the late 1990s. The construction on the home was done by Lewis Thompson, a lumber baron in the area, and has since gone through several conversions, including being a public house in the 1930s and 40s before becoming a bed and breakfast in 1990.
Since purchasing the property in October 2022, Jay and Brittni Zimmerman have intended to preserve the history of the building throughout its renovation process. Some changes were made to the amenities that are offered at the bed and breakfast, such as incorporating puzzles and games for guests. In addition to adding more yard games in the future, the owners plan to incorporate solar power if they can secure grant funding.
The Zimmermans were drawn to the hospitality industry due to their backgrounds in hotels and classical French cuisine, respectively. Their favorite part of operating the Cornerstone Victorian so far has been meeting and welcoming guests who have returned year after year and hearing their stories of the memories they've made at the bed and breakfast.
3921 Main Street
Warrensburg, New York 12885
United States
Queen Anne Victorian
Jay & Brittni Zimmerman
