Cranwell Sold For $18 Million

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The resort's sale was completed on Wednesday, according to land records.

LENOX, Mass. — Cranwell Spa and Golf Resort was sold Wednesday to CampGroup LLC. and L.D. Buildings for $18 million.
 
The resort will now be managed by Hay Creek Hotels, a New England hotel management company. GampGroup owns a number of local properties including Camp Winadu and Camp Danbee and L.D. Builders has developed local properties including The Pines at Bousquet and Lenox Woods. 
 
"With camps in operation in the Berkshires collectively for over 300 years and hundreds of camper families who have enjoyed staying at Cranwell over the past 40 years, we have long admired Cranwell's position of prominence in the community and are thrilled to be a part of such an important Berkshires establishment," Andrew Benerofe, CampGroup chairman, said in a statement released Thursday.
 
"We plan to elevate the already outstanding guest experience and enhance the resort's position as a destination."
 
The historic property has been a landmark in the Berkshires and features 114 hotel rooms, an 18-hole golf course, three restaurants, a banquet hall and large spa. The company hosts not only visitors but also conferences, weddings and other large scale events. The property expands some 380 acres. It has been owned by Berkshire Cranwell Limited Partnership since 1993 and operated by Dan and Carol Burack.
 
"We're very proud of our accomplishments and the community relationships we've established over the years," said Dan Burack.  "We plan to continue our involvement with the vital cultural institutions, including Carol's work on the boards of Barrington Stage Company and Jacob's Pillow.  We're especially pleased that the new ownership has also had strong ties to the Berkshires for many years and will continue to be stewards of this premier New England resort."
 
J.D. Builders plans to expand Cranwell's offerings. The company specializes in buying and developing properties throughout Massachusetts. The company has previously built and managed numerous condominium complexes.
 
"As local builders we are committed to making living, working and playing in the Berkshires more enjoyable," said Dave Ward, L.D. Builders president. "We have a hands-on family approach and plan to bring our careful attention to detail to upgrading and enhancing Cranwell's historic facilities."
 
CampGroup is based in White Plains, N.Y., and operates a number of summer caps. The company owns 16 camps in New England. They also operate retreat locations and off-season camp rentals for conferences and events. 
 
 Hay Creek Hotels is based in Westport, Conn., as a management company for various hotels in New England.
 
"The Buracks created a family atmosphere for both the employees and the guests that we intend to continue. We recognize the importance of valued employees to provide superior service and inspire an exceptional experience for our guests. The current employees at Cranwell are a key ingredient to the resort's success and we look forward to working with Carl Pratt, general manager, and his whole team," said Norm MacLeod, Hay Creek Hotels, president and CEO.

Tags: commercial purchase/sale,   

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The Classical Beat: Tanglewood, Sevenars Proffer Classical Glories

Stephen DanknerSpecial to iBerkshires

As Tanglewood enters its third week, the concerts will be awesome. If you're a pianophile and love concertos for your favorite instrument, masterworks by Ravel and Shostakovich are scheduled. In the third Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra  program of the season, BSO Maestro Andris Nelsons conducts two brilliant and virtuosic tone poems by Richard Strauss, "Don Juan" and "Tyll Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks." TMC Conducting Fellows Julian Gilewski and Lauren Smith lead Beethoven's 'Leonore' Overture No. 3 and Hindemith's "Konzertmusik" for strings and brass. Samuel Barber's masterful Violin Concerto will also be a welcome addition. Such diverse repertoire amply demonstrates that at Tanglewood, the stylistic diversity of musical offerings is both wide and deep.

Added to these delights, there's also the inviting Sevenars Music Festival in South Worthington, MA. This week, Sevenars welcomes the prizewinning Mada-Hugh piano duo in a tribute to America's 250th birthday, showcasing works by Samuel Barber, Leonard Bernstein, Aaron Copland, George Gershwin, Jennifer Higdon, Vincent Persichetti, Florence Price and others - including the pianists' own arrangements. 

Both venues present outstanding classic and contemporary music performed at magnificent venues in pristine, bucolic settings by marvelous performers. "Who Could Ask for Anything More?" Read below for the details.

Tanglewood

Friday, July 17, 8:00 p.m. in the Shed: BSO Music Director Andris Nelsons leads the Orchestra in a fascinating program of instrumental and vocal virtuosity. A recent work by Composer-in-Residence Carlos Simon, "Meditations on Grace," will open the program. Violinist Keila Wakao is the soloist in Samuel Barber's lovely and highly virtuosic Violin Concerto, with its thrilling "perpetual motion" finale. Stellar operatic soloists Renée Fleming and Thomas Hampson will sing selections from composer John Adams' 1987 landmark opera "Nixon in China."

Saturday, July 18, 8:00 p.m. in the Shed: Japanese composer/conductor  Mamoru Fujisawa, known professionally as Joe Hisaishi leads the Boston Symphony in three of his works, and also the scintillating Piano Concerto in G by Maurice Ravel, with Jean-Yves Thibaudet the spectacular soloist.

Sunday, July 19, 2:30 p.m. in the Shed: Maestro Nelsons returns to the Shed's podium to direct the BSO in a program of Haydn (Symphony No. 22 'The Philosopher',) Shostakovich (Piano Concerto No. 1) with the stunning virtuoso pianist Danill Trifonov and accompanied by BSO Principal Trumpet Thomas Rolfe. Beethoven's Symphony No. 2 concludes the program.

Monday, July 20, 2:30 p.m. in Ozawa Hall: The Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, led by TMC Conducting Fellows, and Maestro Nelsons, is featured in Richard Strauss' virtuosic symphonic poems "Don Juan" and "Tyll Eulenspiegel's Merry Pranks." Beethoven's "Overture to 'Leonore' No. 3" and Paul Hindemith's "Konzertmusik" for strings and brass complete the program.

Sevenars Music Festival

Sunday, July 19, 4:00 p.m.: The Mada & Hugh Piano Duo, comprised of Romanian-born pianist M?d?lina-Claudia D?nil? and Korean-American pianist Hugh Sung, stands at the forefront of innovative 4-hand piano performances.

Together, M?d?lina Claudia D?nil?  and Hugh Sung offer a unique command of classical mastery, which they joyously bring to their performances. Their repertoire spans the ages, from timeless classics to their own dazzling arrangements of popular tunes, all the while thrilling audiences with their exceptional artistry and creativity.

The Sevenars Academy is located at 15 Ireland Street, just off Route 112 in the historic village of South Worthington, MA. Admission is by donation (suggested $20.) Phone: (413) 238-5854). Online: www.sevenars.com. Refreshments will be available at no charge.

 

 

 

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