Our Writer’s Retreat & Conference Center

The Gell Center of the Finger Lakes

The Gell Center of the Finger Lakes is a writing retreat and conference center owned and operated byWriters & Books. It is located on a 23-acre plot in the Bristol Hills, just 50 minutes away from Rochester, NY. It is a perfect location for individuals and groups seeking a unique and refreshing home surrounded by a landscaped yard and acres of woodlands.

The Gleason Lodge, which can accommodate up to 74 people, had its groundbreaking ceremony in June 1992 and was completed in the spring of 1993. This facility captures the essence of the Bristol Hills and provides an inspiring meeting place for day-long meetings, seminars, or workshops. The Gleason Lodge is completely handicapped-accessible. A new residential wing, housing up to twenty people, will soon be added.

At the Gell Center, we offer you several kinds of outdoor activities, such as hiking, herb and berry walks, mushroom observation walks and team building exercises.

Location

Nestled in the heart of New York State's Finger Lakes region, the Bristol Valley offers beautiful sights all year round. From the rolling hills to the sprawling woodlands, the Bristol Valley is an inviting location for relaxation and reflection.

The Writers & Books Gell Center is near the southern end of Canandaigua Lake, approximately an hour's drive from Rochester, Ithaca, Corning, and Elmira.

The Finger Lakes region is known for its natural beauty in all seasons. Winter offers cross-country and downhill skiing and snow-shoeing minutes away from the Gell Center. Spring provides beautiful displays of wildflowers and various Arts Festivals. Summer is a great time for hiking, swimming, and boating. Autumn is famous for its colorful foliage and the Naples Grape Festival.

Getting to the Finger Lakes region is quite easy via major highways, rail, or the Rochester International Airport.

History of the Gell Center

The property that we today call the Gell Center of the Finger Lakes was developed by Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Gell, beginning in 1929, to be their private home. The Gells spent two and a half years searching for the perfect spot, and found it in this secluded 24-acre spread in the Bristol Hills. The breathtaking views, wildflowers and animal life were the perfect contrast to their life in the city of Rochester, conveniently located only 50 minutes away. They nicknamed their house "The Beagle", after the ship that carried Charles Darwin on his voyages.

Dr. Gell was a man of diverse interests, with a passion for the arts and education. He and his wife, Geraldine, traveled to Canada every summer to attend the Shakespeare Festival, which they both loved. The Gells, after living here for many years, discussed ways in which their dream home could be used to benefit others.

Their ultimate goal was for their space to be used for creative purposes. They wanted the spirit of creativity and the quest for learning and growth to continue on when they could no longer live here. Today, Writers & Books carries on that spirit of lifelong learning and a respect for nature at the Gell Center, now consisting of the original Gell House and the newly constructed Gleason Lodge.

See the facilities and rental rates

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