Golden Eagle Restaurant

Welcome to the Golden Eagle Restaurant, located on the historic Hairpin Turn on Route 2, the Mohawk Trail, in Clarksburg.

We offer a breathtaking panoramic view and a casual dining atmosphere.

Ever since the Mohawk Trail was opened from Charlemont  to North Adams on October 22, 1914, there has been a building on the Hairpin Turn to accommodate travelers, with souvenirs, food and drink for those who stopped to take in the scenic view of the Hoosac Valley and surrounding Berkshire Hills. The elevation of the Hairpin Turn is 1,700 feet above sea level.

In 1980, John and Lynn Morris purchased the Golden Eagle Gift Shop & Restaurant from the Canedy family, which owned the Hairpin Turn location from the time it was opened in 1914. Since then, there have been several structures on this site. This building has been standing since 1958.

<L2>The Morris family took two years to renovate the building into a full-service restaurant and opened to the public in August 1982. Since then, the restaurant has gone through many changes. The restaurant was located upstairs and there was a gift shop on the first floor. The restaurant business has flourished and, by 1992, the gift shop was reduced to half of the downstairs and a lounge/causal dining room was added. By 1997, additional dining was in demand and the downstairs was converted into a full lounge.

<R3> Today, we serve a full dinner menu upstairs and down. In the spring, summer and fall, people can take in the magnificent view and enjoy a light menu on our veranda. Year-round, people enjoy dinner in our scenic dining room, or more casual dining downstairs in the lounge.  

Dalton Board Signs Off on Land Sale Over Residents' Objections

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
05:50AM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Residents demanded the right to speak but the agenda did not include public comment. Amy Musante holds a sign saying the town now as '$20,000 less for a police station.'

DALTON, Mass. — The Select Board signed the sale on the last of what had been known as the Bardin property Monday even as a handful of residents demanded the right to speak against the action. 

 

The quitclaim deed transfers the nine acres to Thomas and Esther Balardini, who purchased the two other parcels in Dalton. They were the third-highest bidders at $31,500. Despite this, the board awarded them the land in an effort to keep the property intact.

 

"It's going to be an ongoing battle but one I think that has to be fought [because of] the disregard for the taxpayers," said Dicken Crane, the high bidder at $51,510.

 

"If it was personal I would let it go, but this affects everyone and backing down is not in my nature." 

 

Crane had appealed to the board to accept his bid during two previous meetings. He and others opposed to accepting the lower bid say it cost the town $20,000. After the meeting, Crane said he will be filing a lawsuit and has a citizen's petition for the next town meeting with over 100 signatures. 

 

Three members of the board — Chair Robert Bishop Jr., John Boyle, and Marc Strout — attended the 10-minute meeting. Members Anthony Pagliarulo and Daniel Esko previously expressed their disapproval of the sale to the Balardinis. 

 

Pagliarulo voted against the sale but did sign the purchase-and-sale agreement earlier this month. His reasoning was the explanation by the town attorney during an executive session that, unlike procurement, where the board is required to accept the lowest bid for services, it does have some discretion when it comes to accepting bids in this instance.