This historic NY inn, where Hollywood stars mingled with racing elite, has a new look

The iconic Glen Motor Inn, purchased in June 2022 by real estate entrepreneur Jonathan Twombly for $1,950,000, now named The Hotel Laurel at Seneca, is fully open for business, reflecting the extensive top-to-bottom renovations at the legendary hotel.

Twombly said work at the 3380 state Route 14, Watkins Glen property, which cost about $1.8 million, included complete renovations of the guestrooms, restaurant and bar and building an event deck.

“We've also done a complete rebrand and a new logo redesign,” said Twombly, owner of Two Bridges Asset Management, of Brooklyn. “The look at Seneca Lake had everything to do with purchasing the hotel. Just from my knowledge of the area there are few hotels in the region with this kind of view. The view is priceless.”

Twombly, who purchased a family retreat home in Branchport more than a decade ago, said each time he and his family drove by the former Glen Motor Inn, they would have the same conversation.

“Look at this spot,” Twombly said. “Once we bought a house here, I was basically looking for excuses to be here more. I was looking around for different things that I could invest in, and I saw that the hotel was for sale, so I made a run at it.”

More: Racing festival draws classic sports cars through 6.6 miles of Watkins Glen: What to know

Twombly has never owned a hotel before, so his first step was trying to find someone with that experience. One of his longtime business partners led him to Shiv Parbhoo, who grew up in the hospitality business and is the operating manager of The Hotel Laurel at Seneca.

“One of the big things we identified, is something unique and essentially uniqueness is the view of Seneca Lake,” said Parbhoo.

Twombly said The Hotel Laurel at Seneca partially opened in June and fully opened in late August.

“We opened as rooms were ready for guests and now all the rooms have been renovated,” Twombly said.

Nigar Hale, executive director of Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce, said The Hotel Laurel at Seneca team has worked tirelessly to create an updated version of the space.

“We are so excited to celebrate with them,” said Hale. “Congratulations for being an integral part of what it means to experience the beauty of Seneca Lake. It’s breathtaking.”

More: This hidden restaurant and bar offers spectacular views of Seneca Lake: What to know

Shawn Rosno, interim Schuyler County administrator, called the renovated hotel a beautiful place.

“I look forward to spending some time here myself again,” Rosno said. “The view here is just fantastic.”

Twombly said the Franzese family, who originally opened the Glen Motor Inn in 1948 and sold the hotel in 2022, have been a tremendous help. Nancy Franzese has stayed on as the general manager at The Hotel Laurel at Seneca.

A look at the history of the Glen Motor Inn

Bill Green, racing historian for International Motor Racing Research Center, said the Glen Motor Inn was built by the Franzese family in 1948 and it quickly became a place where many famous Formula One drivers, 6-hour drivers, professional series drivers stayed.

Nancy Franzese's father, Vic Franzese, a local racing legend who died Aug. 28, 2021 at the age of 81, believed racing brought the world to Watkins Glen and, by extension, to the Glen Motor Inn.

More: This new clothing outlet in Watkins Glen promises colorful comfort: What to know

“You met people from all over the world coming to a little place in Upstate New York which was unique and cool,” Nancy Franzese said. “I still meet people today that kind of think Glen Motor Inn is like a mecca for them. If you were a Formula One fan or a racing fan you came to Watkins Glen and you came to Glen Motor Inn.”

Jim Guild, a longtime Watkins Glen area resident and business owner, said the Glen Motor Inn was the headquarters of racing in the '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s.

“You could go there and see George Harrison in there with Jimmy Stewart,” Guild said. “And every racer was there.”

Schuyler County Legislator Mark Rondinaro said the first year of the Glen Motor Inn was the same year as the first United States Grand Prix in Watkins Glen.

“That initiated an auspicious and historic racing relationship between Schuyler County, the Franzese family and Glen Motor Inn,” Rondinaro said. “The results honor the history and tradition of Glen Motor Inn that still last today.”

This article originally appeared on The Leader: Remember the Glen Motor Inn? $1.8 million transforms iconic NY hotel