203 Main St, Lenox, Massachusetts, United States | (413) 637-4800
Historic four-acre property with garden seating and pond
Located five minutes from Tanglewood, near shops and restaurants in Lenox
Rooms come with flat-screen TVs; some have mini-fridges, wet bars, fireplaces, whirlpool tubs, and patios
Buffet breakfast included in room rate, and tasty snacks with tea and coffee available all day
Pub, which serves wine and beer, is available for private parties
Fireplace parlor and computer in the main house
Barbecue grill in the garden
Free Wi-Fi throughout, along with outdoor parking
Library with books on loan
Mandatory deposit, and minimum stay in high season
No high chairs or cribs available
Floorboards inevitably creak in this historic property
The mid-range Cornell Inn Lenox is a historic property on four manicured acres with three 18th- and 19th-century houses and 28 individually decorated, homey rooms with antique touches; some also have mini-fridges, wet bars, fireplaces in sitting areas, and whirlpool tubs. Two suites have kitchens. The Victorian Main House -- with a fireplace parlor, breakfast lounge, and a private pub -- gives many cozy spots to linger. Located within walking distance of Lenox shops and restaurants, the inn is a five-minute drive to Tanglewood. For slightly more upscale accommodations with a seasonal pool, travelers might want to check out the pricier Hampton Terrace Bed and Breakfast Inn.
Disclaimer: This content was accurate at the time the hotel was reviewed. Please check our partner sites when booking to verify that details are still correct.
Scene
Historic bed and breakfast with charming interiors, porches, and manicured grounds
The Cornell Inn Lenox is made up of three houses built in the 18th and 19th centuries on four acres of nicely landscaped grounds with stone pathways that lead past porches, lawn furniture, and a waterfall dropping into a pond. The husband and wife owners -- Tim and Nell McCaffery -- check in guests in the Main House, which was built in 1888 and once owned by the Cornell family. Rocking chairs are on the front porch and inside are charming brick and Old World wood details in a parlor with a fireplace. Free baked treats, coffee, and tea are available throughout the day in the breakfast room. Couples and groups of friends tend to stay here, and there are a few rooms large enough for families, but clientele depends on the season -- when we visited in August, the clientele skewed to older couples in town taking in the nearby Tanglewood concerts.
Location
Located in the historic town of Lenox, an easy walk to shops and restaurants
This property is on Main Street, near Route 20, in the town of Lenox, and some noise from the main road does reach the rooms. The inn is on the border of Kennedy Park, where there’s skiing, snowshoeing, and hiking. It’s a 10-minute walk downhill to the shops and restaurants of Lenox. The drive to Tanglewood, where the Boston Symphony Orchestra performs in the summer, takes about five minutes. Numerous celebrations are held in the area, including the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival and Williamstown Theater Festival. The Norman Rockwell Museum is about a 15-minute drive; Clark Museum is about 45 minutes away by car; and it's 15 minutes to Stockbridge. The closest airport is Albany International, about an hour's drive, while Boston Logan International is slightly more than a two-hour drive away.
Rooms
Pleasantly decorated rooms, many with fireplaces, wet bars, patios, and whirlpool tubs
The Cornell Inn Lenox's 28 rooms have a pleasant and warm ambience, with patterned wallpaper, wooden floors, wingback chairs, and four-poster or canopy beds. Individually designed, rooms are spread out in three historic houses, and have queen, king, full, or two twin beds. Carriage House Rooms have country-style decor: patchwork quilts and vintage toys. Two loft suites have full kitchens. The Main House features Victorian style and rich wooden furniture. The MacDonald House offers Colonial-style rooms with pinewood details. Suites have one or two sitting areas. All rooms have 32- or 26-inch flat-screen TVs, AC, irons, and free Wi-Fi. Many have mini-fridges in wet bars, coffeemakers, fireplaces in sitting areas, and furnished patios. Homey, wallpapered bathrooms have hairdryers, showers or shower/tub combos, and some have whirlpool tubs. Accessible rooms that can accommodate wheelchairs are available.
Features
Charming breakfast lounge with a terrace, lawn seating, a computer corner, and free parking
The heart of this inn is the breakfast lounge, a cozy dining area with pinewood chairs, a fireplace, and a free morning spread of coffee, tea, yogurt, homemade muffins, omelets, pancakes, and home fries, among other items. In the warmer months, more dining tables and a propane barbecue grill are on the terrace. A small but charming pub with seating under a conservatory glass ceiling serves drinks, and the space can be rented for private parties. Furnished porches overlook the lawns that offer white Adirondack chairs and a swing. In the main house, a PC computer is available for guests' use, along with a copier and fax machine, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property. Guests can park their cars for free in the outdoor lot at the front of the property.
