Cranwell Sold For $18 Million

Staff ReportsPrint Story | Email Story

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,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

The Classical Beat: Tanglewood and Sevenars Showcase Stunning Diversity


The Sparky Quintet plays at Sevenars.

LENOX, Mass. — This week, as Tanglewood embarks upon its bold mid-August schedule of events, the diversity of programming maximizes themed exploratory expression – from solo piano remembrances of personal loss to massed strings recounting the heroism of historic aviator Amelia Earhart; from concert classics by Beethoven (the "apotheosis of the dance" Seventh Symphony) and Aaron Copland's "Appalachian Spring" choreographed by Martha Graham and performed by the BSO - the entire program danced by her eponymous Dance Company, to a career-celebration/tribute to John Williams with live orchestra (the Boston Pops conducted by Keith Lockhart) performing a broad selection of excerpted film clips/scenes composed by maestro Williams, to the Tanglewood Music Center Festival Orchestra, conducted by Marin Alsop performing Gustav Mahler's emotionally overpowering Symphony No. 5…all this and much more is in store for eager audiences this week, from August 12-18. Read below for the details of five of these concert highlights.

  • Wednesday, August 12, 8:00 p.m., Studio E, Linde Center: Pianist Adam Tendler, in a themed program entitled "Inheritances" transforms personal loss into luminous art with a collection of 16 commissioned solo piano works. The pianist invited composers Laurie Anderson, Devonté Hynes, Nico Muhly and Missy Mazzoli to create pieces in dialogue with his own reflections.
  • Thursday, August 13, 8:00 p.m. in Ozawa Hall: Composer/vocalist/violinist and electronics performer Laurie Anderson performs "Amelia" – a work celebrating aviator America Earhart, scored  for string orchestra, with text from the pilot's log from her final trip around the world. Strings from the Boston Symphony and guest artist Martha Mooke will be conducted by Dennis Russel Davies. 
  • Friday, August 14, 8:00 p.m. in the Shed: Conductor Anna Handler leads the Boston Symphony in a program with dance, featuring the Martha Graham Dance Company, Janet Eilber, Artistic Director. Featured works include the glorious Martha Graham-commissioned Aaron Copland score "Appalachian Spring," Beethoven's Symphony No. 7, and Christopher Rountree's "For Martha – Variations on a Theme of Leonard Bernstein."
  • Saturday, August 15, 8:00 p.m. in the Shed: Conductor/Music Director Keith Lockhart conducts the Boston Pops in "A Tribute to John Williams – Maestro of the Movies." The Pops celebrates maestro Williams in an ultimate aural feast of his film scoring career, with more than 50 minutes of specially-edited scenes and film clips taken from John Williams' best-loved films, projected in HD and synchronized to his spectacular music.
  • Sunday, August 16, 2:30 p.m. in the Shed: Conductor Marin Alsop leads the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra in a program of composers Anna Clyne ("Masquerade,") Max Bruch (Violin Concerto No. 1,) with featured soloist Ray Chen, and Mahler (Symphony No. 5.)

For tickets for all Tanglewood/BSO concerts (lawn and Shed seating) and for special events call (617) 266-1200 or (413) 637-5180; online: tanglewood.org or customerservice@bso.org. In Lenox, visit the Tanglewood box office at the Main Gate located at 297 West Street.

Sevenars Music Festival

Founded in 1968, Sevenars Concerts, Inc., is celebrating its 58th season of six summer concerts, held at the Academy - now air-conditioned – a building designated "an acoustic gem in an idyllic setting," located in the  historic village of South Worthington,15 Ireland Street, off MA Route 112.

  • Sunday, August 16, 4:00 p.m.: For a totally fun season Sevenars Music Festival season closer, head to the country – specifically South Worthington, MA., for a great time with Sevenars' longtime friends: The Sparky Quintet:, consisting of piano, voice, guitar, violin, flute and percussion.?

Now in its fourth season at Sevenars, the inimitable Sparky Quartet - now expanded to a Quintet! - formed in tribute to late master clarinetist Bob Sparkman – has deep roots at Sevenars, beginning with Bob's collaborations with treasured pianist and composer Clifton J. "Jerry" Noble, Jr. ("Bob and Jerry"), later joined by the wonderfully versatile Kara Noble for bass and vocals. In 2023, after Bob departed this world, they added the inimitable Chris Devine on violin and flute and the extraordinary Jon Van Eps on percussion and thus became officially the Sparky Quartet. This year, guitarist Bob Ferrier joins to make it the Sparky Quintet, so please come and enjoy this newly expanded ensemble! Their playing, banter, and camaraderie are amazing and are always a big hit - so come enjoy the magic!

Sevenars concerts are presented on consecutive Sundays at 4:00 p.m. until August 16. Phone: (413) 238-5854 (please leave a message for a return call). Online: www.sevenars.org. Admission is by donation at the door (suggested $20). Refreshments will be available at no charge. 

View Full Story

More Lenox Stories