Luxury Homes

Berkshires Gilded Age mansion-hotel hits market for $15m. See inside.

The estate, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has 19 bedrooms, 21 full baths, and two half baths and sits on 21.25 acres.

The "Wheatleigh" estate in Stockbridge has 19 bedrooms, 21 full baths, 2 half baths, and 21.25 acres. Gregory Huber

May 29, 2024

If you come across a property referred to as a “cottage” but with a $15 million price tag, you’re likely in the Berkshires.

The mansion at 11 Hawthorne Road is also known as “Wheatleigh,” a 25,478-square-foot historic estate that functioned as a hotel for the past 40 years. A 19-bed, 23-bath (21 full, 2 half) Renaissance Revival beauty constructed in 1893 by Peabody and Stearns, it was named after original owner Henry Harvey Cook’s homeland in Wheatley, England.

Featured on the National Register of Historic Places, the 21.25-acre luxury property is tucked in Stockbridge a short distance from Tanglewood and the rest of Lenox.

“It’s been kept in excellent condition,” said Cindy Welch of LandVest Christie’s International Real Estate, who has the listing.

On the stately grounds, guests arrive via a circular driveway set before the main entrance, which has an impressive fountain statue.

“The entrance is, of course, very grand itself,” Welch said of the 1,292-square-foot great hall, which was part of a massive update by architects Tsao and McKown. The hall could function as a living room and boasts Tiffany windows, towering arches, and an enormous fireplace with intricate carvings.

“They updated it while maintaining its Gilded Age grandeur,” Welch said. “They made it truly luxurious accommodations.”

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There are five bedroom suites on the first floor, two of which open to porticos. The first floor also features a 440-square-foot library, several office spaces, and an 855-square-foot dining room with a 527-square-foot portico. The first level also has a spacious kitchen, a pastry kitchen, and a pantry.

The second level features the remaining bedroom suites, each equipped with high-speed internet and Bang and Olufsen televisions. There’s also a 234-square-foot balcony overlooking the property.

Additional amenities include a massage room, fitness center, heated pool, and tennis court.

Behind the property, you’ll find a terrace that embraces the grandeur of the grounds, which Frederick Law Olmsted originally designed. Sweeping views of Stockbridge Bowl abound, while rolling open lawns connect to walking paths lined with mountain laurels, azaleas, and rhododendrons, according to the National Park Service.

While the estate has functioned as a hotel for 40 years, it could also be converted into a private residence.

But that’s not the only potential use bounced around for the property.

“I’ve had a convention center. I’ve had somebody who wanted to do a museum there, a corporate retreat, or wedding venue,” Welch said. “And, of course, a hotel.”

See inside the Berkshires estate: