Wheatleigh Going Up for Sale

Print Story | Email Story
STOCKBRIDGE, Mass. — One of the county's most exclusive hotels is not completely closing this Valentine's Day. 
 
But the owners of Wheatleigh, L. Linfield and Susan Simon, did confirm to The Berkshire Eagle that they will on putting the 1893 Italian-style villa up for sale later this year.
 
It will close as a hotel but will be open for private rentals and for weddings and events that were booked through the summer. 
 
iBerkshires and other media posted an announcement made Monday on the hotel's Facebook page: 
 
"It is with great sadness, we bid you all a fond farewell. The Wheatleigh ownership has made the difficult decision to close the property, and put it up for sale as a private residence. Our last day of operation will be February 14th. We thank you all for sharing your lives with us, and we wish you all the very best as we usher in a new chapter for the house we all love."
 
The Eagle reported Wednesday that the post was a hoax by "an unhappy former employee." The newspaper reported that the Simons are seeking to options for the hotel's future and that the company that was managing it the last few years is no longer involved. 
 
Banking and railroad magnate Henry H. Cook built the Berkshire cottage as a summer home. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and, at one point, was designated five stars by Forbes. It is listed on the Leading Hotels of the World website. It passed out of the Cook family and for a short time was a jazz and folk music school and resort, connected to the Music Inn, and then as a summer hotel. 
 
The Linfords purchased the property in 1983 as Su Lin Inc. It was refurbished in the early 1990s and renovated it in 2002. It's assessed at about $4 million. 
 
It has 19 rooms and suites on 22 acres designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. Within walking distance of Tanglewood, the hotel has been a frequent stop for notable celebrities over the years. It is known for its fine dining, wine cellar and luxuriously appointed accommodations. 
 
Updated on Feb. 7, 2024; 2 p.m.

Tags: motels, hotels,   

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

Car Crashes Through Taft Farms Plant Display

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

An employee sets up caution tape at Taft Farms where a vehicle went through the plant display. 

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Police are investigating an incident in which a vehicle plowed through an outside display at Taft Farms. 

Shortly before 2 p.m. on Wednesday, police received the call of a crash at the farm.  A car had driven through the outdoor plant section of the farm store on Park Street.  

About an hour later, employees were cleaning up a car-sized hole in the cement divider, and that section of plants was gone, but the business was operating seemingly as normal.  Those involved with the incident had left. 

Police said the cause and any injuries are currently unknown, as the incident is under investigation.  Because it involves a minor, the business owner and police would not comment further. 

Taft Farms thanked first responders and good Samaritans over Facebook and praised the community. 

"We would like to send a huge THANK YOU to the Great Barrington Police Department, Great Barrington Fire Department, Housatonic Fire Department, Southern Berkshire Ambulance Squad and all the agencies that responded quickly and professionally to the accident at our store," the post read. 

"Thank you as well to the MANY good Samaritans who stepped in to help until officers and EMTs responded. We live in a fantastic community with many dedicated public servants."

They asked that, out of respect for those involved, people refrain from posting "claims about what happened online." 

Initial reports from someone listening to the scanner and posting on Facebook was that the vehicle had gone into the building and injured multiple pedestrians. 

View Full Story

More South Berkshire Stories