The Hotel Lenhart is located on Bemus Point on the northern shore of Lake Chautauqua, overlooking Bemus Bay. The hotel was founded in 1880 and has remained under family ownership ever since (it is now in its fourth generation). The hotel has fifty-three rooms, although some do not have en-suite bathrooms due to the age of the building (private bathrooms are provided for these rooms down the hall). Apart from a cocktail bar, the hotel's great attraction is its long veranda and colored rocking chairs that offer wonderful views over the lake. The hotel is open between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Closer to Jamestown in the district of Lakewood on the southern shore of Chautauqua Lake is the more economic option of the Fairmount Motel. This small motel's clean, cosy rooms are decorated in retro styles ranging from the 40s to the 80s. Its lush garden features a gazebo with a view of the lake. A very short walk away is the Diamond café, which offers old-fashioned American home-cooking.
The spectacular Athenaeum Hotel is located on the southwestern shore of Chautauqua Lake on the grounds of Chautauqua Institution -- a vibrant 750-acre gated community that holds year-round cultural and historical events. The hotel was built in 1881 in the "Saratoga Style" and has hosted ten US Presidents in its time. The building is appropriately furnished in period Victorian style with a wide variety of wallpapers. Rooms range from basic rooms to suites and can be rented by the night or more economically for longer periods. An interesting dining feature here is that it operates on the "American Plan" system, meaning that breakfast (full or continental), lunch (grand buffet luncheon) and dinner (five course dinner) are all included in the price of the room.
Located a little further to the north along the lake shore from the Athenaeum is The Spencer Hotel and Spa. This four-star Western New York-style hotel offers a wide selection of different hotel rooms and suites, each of them carefully decorated by local artists and furnished in the style of a different great writer, ranging from the "John Keats" double to the "Agatha Christie" honeymoon suite. The spa provides a comprehensive selection of manicures and massages, and the hotel can also take you on a specially tailored tour of the local area and wineries.
