Newfield’s Quinta Rosa Estate: still going strong

Six years ago, the Quinta Rosa Estate Bed and Breakfast, owned by Tara and Nathan Reimer, opened its doors for business, but the dream of it was born long before.

“I had been dreaming of owning a bed and breakfast for many years,” Tara said. “I already had a name picked out for it before I had it. I had been talking about a bed and breakfast since my husband and I were first married. One day, my husband told me that I should just write the name down, decide what I want and go for it.”

The Reimers opened Terra Rosa in the Triphammer Marketplace in 2000, which offers event planning, high-end stationary, custom design and printing and unique gifts for people of all ages. The boutique now operates in tandem with the inn for providing a variety of services to make planning and execution of events effortless.

“I have 23 years’ experience in event planning, so it seemed only natural that this would be something I should do,” Tara explained. “I wanted to offer a place where people could enjoy a peaceful, relaxing experience, a place where people could escape from everything and just relax and enjoy their surroundings. For me, it’s always been about the experience for the guests.”

The five-room, Victorian-style inn was originally built in 1901 and has been restored and renovated, keeping the original trim. The bedrooms all come with private bathrooms and breathtaking views of the 50 acres it’s nestled in.

“I had received a message from a friend about a property to look at and that led us to this place,” Tara said. “At that time when it was for sale, the owners had different ideas for its future, so it didn’t work out and ended up selling as a residence. A few years later, it came back up for sale, and that’s when we got it.”

With her background in event planning, Tara wanted a place where she could create beautiful experiences and memories for guests.

“I wanted to offer a beautiful space where people could experience joy and happiness and the perfect atmosphere for their event,” she said. “The barn located next to the inn was the perfect setting to make that happen.”

The historic, turn-of-the-century barn next to the Quinta Rosa Inn was built in 1906 and was a show barn for carriage horses and Jersey cattle. The wood was imported from Scandinavia and brought in by rail.

“We were very lucky to find the barn and the house in the condition they were in when we purchased the property,” Tara said.

Despite the consistent success of the inn, Tara notes that this business is “certainly not for the faint of heart.”

“It’s always been a labor of love for us,” Tara said. “It’s always been a family affair. Our three kids help us in all aspects of the inn and preparing for events. The mandates the pandemic has imposed on us have definitely provided more challenges.”

Tara feels grateful and lucky that New York state deemed hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast essential businesses from the beginning.

“It was obviously a difficult time with the uncertainty of the situation bringing mandates that changed frequently,” she said. “At this time, we don’t require vaccinations, but we do have a questionnaire. In the beginning, there was a time when New York state required lodging businesses to request vaccination status. That hasn’t been reinstated as of now, but the concern is always there for us that it might be. It’s a very uncertain time again, and it makes the atmosphere heavy at times.”

Tara said that safety for her guests, family and outside vendors has been, and will continue to be, her top priority.

“It’s definitely changed the landscape of this industry,” she said. “Precautions have to be taken that have never been factored into event planning to keep everyone involved safe. I interact with the guests and the people involved with the events. We generally use outside vendors for catering, bar services, music and pretty much all the services associated with an event outside of the venue itself. We are diligent in our practices regarding safety and sanitation. Luckily, at this time, we haven’t had any issues or exposure.”

Although the mechanics and execution of operations at the inn have required adjustments, Tara and her family have found functional and creative ways to provide the standard of service they pride themselves on.

“We used to have these beautiful breakfasts in our dining room where guests could select from our large menu of options and be served together, in a beautiful setting, around the dining room table every morning,” Tara said.

Like most businesses specializing in hospitality, the Quinta Rosa Inn had to be prepared to change its service protocols at a moment’s notice to meet the requirements of the ever-changing mandates enforced by the state.

“Now, we offer contact-free pickup or delivery of your selected breakfast menu items,” Tara said. “We found ways to prepare and package breakfasts that were not only sanitary but presented beautifully. We got creative and made personalized boxes, sealed and then finished with ribbon, that guests could come and pick up at the table or that could be delivered to their room. It’s just an example of one of the many ways we’ve had to adjust how we’ve always done things.”

Entering 2022, Tara is optimistic about navigating the uncertainty that may come with it.

“We were blessed [that] the business took off the day we opened our doors,” she said. “We’ve remained steady and consistent. I feel positive about the new year ahead. Recently, I heard a guest’s laughter from inside the inn. After the last year and a half making everything feel so heavy, I realized that it was one of the greatest sounds. It showed me that there is hope. It reminded me that there is still joy to be had, and that I’m happy I get to be a part of creating it.”

Information on the bed and breakfast and the boutique can be found at quintarosaestate.com and terra-rosa.com, respectively.

Newfield Notes appears every week in Tompkins Weekly. Send story ideas to editorial@vizellamedia.com.