11 Hawthorne Rd, Lenox, Massachusetts, United States | (888) 905-8267
Exceptional luxury property
styled as a 16th century Florentine palazzo
Located on 22 acres of lush,
landscaped grounds
French fine-dining
restaurant on-site, The Dining Room
Beautifully furnished rooms with decorative fireplaces and antique bathtubs
Amenities
include Bang & Olufsen flat-screen TVs and Bose Bluetooth
speakers
Beautifully landscaped swimming pool, plus tennis court
Fitness center with cardio and weight-lifting equipment
Shiatsu massage room
Access to the nearby Stockbridge Golf Club
Free
Wi-Fi throughout
Room rates do not include
breakfast
No tea- or coffee-making facilities or minibar in rooms
No on-site spa (just a massage room)
Small
fitness room with few machines
Wheatleigh is an
exclusive, luxury property styled as a 16th century Florentine palazzo with
only 19 romantic rooms. The property is set on 22 acres of beautifully landscaped
grounds, overlooking the mountains and a lake, with an outdoor pool in a pretty garden
setting. A notable highlight is its French fine-dining restaurant -- which is a
destination in itself. Wheatleigh does not have a typical hotel ambiance; it’s more like an exclusive luxury manor offering the unique experience of staying in a spectacular setting.
For this reason, some of the usual features expected of a five-pearl hotel are
absent, and some past guests have complained that its limited amenities fall
short of the high room rates. A better value could be the Stonover Farm Bed and Breakfast, a nearby upscale property.
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
Luxurious, understated manor set in 22 acres of landscaped gardens
Located in the middle of 22 acres of landscaped
gardens, the Wheatleigh offers an exclusive ambiance. Built in 1893 and styled after a 16th century Florentine palazzo, this beautiful mansion is a luxury
property of elegant columned arches and impressive interiors decorated in a tasteful and understated style. Wheatleigh was constructed as a wedding present in 1893 by Henry H.
Cook for his daughter Georgie. And its history recalls a roster of famous names in design: The building was designed and built by the Boston
architectural firm Peabody and Stearns; the gardens were designed by Frederick
Law Olmstead (designer of NYC's Central Park); and the interiors were updated by the Brooklyn firm, Tsao & McKown. The interiors reveal beautiful
detailing including hardwood floors, high ceilings, antique furnishings, arched
windows set with Tiffany stained glass, sculpted fireplaces, and many works of
contemporary art. The vast majority of guests staying here are couples looking
for a relaxing weekend break, or a pleasant place to stay during the Tanglewood
Music Festival held each summer. Though children are welcome to stay here, the
atmosphere here is very adult and formal.
Location
Located near the town of Lenox and its cultural venues
Wheatleigh is just a four-minute drive from the
town of Lenox and its many cafes, restaurants, shops, and art galleries. Other
cultural attractions are located here, including the Ventfort Hall Mansion and
Gilded Age Museum, a five-minute drive away, and The Mount, Edith Wharton’s home, which is
a seven-minute drive away. The venue of the Tanglewood Music Festival (also the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra) is a
four-minute drive from here. Stockbridge Golf Club is a 12-minute drive away,
and it takes nine minutes to drive to Kennedy Park where there are horseback riding
and hiking opportunities. New York is a three-hour drive away, and its two and
a half hours to Boston by car. The nearest airport is Albany International Airport, a
one-hour drive away, while Bradley International Airport is a 70-minute drive
away.
Rooms
Luxurious, unique rooms with elegant furnishings, some with balconies
Each of the rooms at Wheatleigh is
unique and has its own distinctive features. The decor and furnishings, however, are uniformly classic in style, with a color scheme of earthy tones with soft
beiges and light grays. The Aviary is the largest of the rooms, made up
of two floors linked by a striking circular staircase enclosed in glass. There’s a huge
Bang & Olufsen flat-screen TV in the living room, and a plush
velour sofa and chaise lounge. The charming veranda is private and a pleasant
place to relax and enjoy the scenic views. The luxury bathroom has a marble
sink top with a copper inlaid sink, and a claw foot bathtub. Other rooms
have equally charming details such as decorative fireplaces, balconies, and
terraces. All the rooms have the same huge Bang & Olufsen flat-screen TVs, DVD players, Bose Bluetooth speaker systems, Powermat charging
pads, free Wi-Fi, and a choice of luxury bath products including Bulgari, Aromatherapy, Clarins,
Plantation, and Neutrogena. Some past guests have complained of the lack of tea-
and coffee-making facilities or minibars in the rooms.
Features
Fine-dining restaurant, garden pool, fitness center, and massage room
For a luxury property, the
Wheatleigh has few extra notable features. A highlight is the fine-dining
French restaurant, located in the Dining Room, and run by the resident chef,
Jeffrey Thompson. The menu here is seasonal and a tasting menu of several
courses is on offer. A popular place to dine is in the glassed-in portico. The
Library offers a more casual dining experience and has full bar service. The property's swimming pool is located in a charming and secluded corner of the gardens, with
a few sun loungers available. The property also has a tennis court, and a
partnership with the nearby Stockbridge Golf Club where guests have the
opportunity to play on one of the oldest golf courses in the country. The
fitness center located in the basement is small, and not very well equipped,
with just a few workout machines. Shiatsu massages can be booked and enjoyed in
the small massage room just off the fitness center, but there is no full spa on-site. Other small extras include
a car rental service, free Wi-Fi throughout the property, and freshly baked cookies in rooms on arrival. The
property can also be booked for weddings and special events.
