Six generations of family history sit behind the doors of the 1885 Fruit Packing House in Hector.

Eric and Tina Hazlitt

The 1885 Fruit Packing House captures the spirit of our farm community’s dedication to preservation and invites guests to experience some of the history that helped shape this beautiful corner of Seneca Lake.

In 2007, Tina and Eric Hazlitt undertook the restoration of their sixth generation family farmhouse. The home has been in the family since the 1890s, and when the opportunity came, they jumped at the chance to bring it back to life and live in this incredible piece of family history. The farmette also includes an old fruit packing house, a place where peaches, cherries, and grapes were once packed and shipped by steamboat to larger markets.

In 2012, they restored the fruit packing house and turned it into an in-law guest house for Eric’s mother. It is still used by the family today, but for a few months each year they open it up for guests. It’s a spacious one-bedroom set right among two working farms, with views of Seneca Lake and authentic local art throughout. Located right in the middle of Hector, guests are just a stone’s throw from multiple wineries and breweries.

They were one of the first short-term rentals in the area back in 2012, before Airbnb had really taken over. Tina and Eric quickly found that they loved hosting and meeting people from all over. If they are around and able, they will sometimes offer farm tours and have even taken guests out on the lake or down to their family beach.

In 2019, they started preparing part of the big farmhouse to become a two-bedroom guest suite, known as the Happy Harvest Farmhouse. It’s beautiful and historic, with lots of character, from the gold shimmering wallpaper in the Gold Room to reupholstered chairs and a large newly remodeled bathroom. Guests can sit on the big front porch and have what really feels like an authentic stay in Hector. With many repeat guests coming back year after year, they must be doing something right. And really, what makes this stay special is usually the same thing that makes any place memorable: the people behind it. Tina and Eric definitely have a story to tell.

Tina and Eric Hazlitt are pioneers of the grape industry here on Seneca Lake and have been deeply connected to their family farm, Sawmill Creek Vineyards, for decades. Back in 1978, Eric helped plant some of the first Riesling and Chardonnay vines with his father, Jimmy. Jimmy had a vision for the farm, and with a Cornell degree behind him he went all in on growing grapes on the family’s farmland.

Eric was right there with him. After finishing his agricultural engineering degree at SUNY Cobleskill, he came back home with the skills needed to help make that vision happen. They worked side by side for years. Eric, who has a real knack for mechanical engineering, kept the farm running and evolving. Jimmy was also very involved in helping put New York State grapes on the map. Together they helped shape some of the early viticulture practices that are still used across the Finger Lakes today.

Today Sawmill Creek Vineyards farms about 70 acres of grapes, including 16 different varietals, and sells fruit to over a dozen wineries in New York State. Many of those wineries have won award after award using Sawmill Creek Vineyards fruit.

Tina came onto the scene in 2003 and helped transition Jimmy into retirement. She handles the financial side of the farm and does everything from HR to marketing to coordinating harvest. She is also very active in grape growing advocacy in New York through her work with the New York Wine Policy Institute, the advisory board of the Finger Lakes Grape Community, and more. In 2023, they became New York Certified growers and continue to lead the way in sustainable farming practices.

It’s easy to see why guests love staying here. They are stepping right into the history of the area while being welcomed by a family that has worked incredibly hard to keep this farm strong for generations. And that next generation is already involved. Eric’s son Jason and daughter Erin now work alongside him, continuing the family tradition of growing exceptional fruit. It’s a massive amount of work, but they are proud to keep the farm going and continue the tradition of premium grape growing here on Seneca Lake.