The original Airport Rooms sign and its neon is being restored and will be put back in place.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Tourists is planning a new eatery that will reflect some of the 200-year-old history of the property.
The Airport Rooms will open in February in the historic 1813 farmhouse that first welcomed visitors to the area.
It marks a significant change in the resort's plans for a fine-dining restaurant on Massachusetts Avenue that guests at the State Road motel would have accessed via a bucolic trail over the river.
In a press release Wednesday, the motel said it the Airport Rooms will be "serving classic cocktails and a creative food menu from Austin [Texas] native, Greg Thomas."
The developers of the former Redwood Motel had touched on some possibilities for the farmhouse but had not integrated it fully into their plans until now.
A restaurant had been planned adjacent to the motel on State Road but complications of siting it near the Hoosic River led the group to look toward Blackinton, where it has been buying up properties including the Blackinton Mill.
Award-winning chef Cortney Burns had been key to the development of farm-to-table restaurant Loom in the former Our Lady of Incarnation Church on Massachusetts Avenue. The plans had been approved by the Planning Board back in October. But Burns is apparently out of the picture, focusing on a forthcoming cookbook and other projects.
The food and beverage menu at the lodge and deck bar is being taken over by chef Corey Wentworth, formerly of Boston's Flour Bakery. The motel is also working to create a venue for larger gatherings in response to inquiries from guests and residents.
Tourists opened in August after several years of development. According to the release, the decision to open the Airport Rooms was also based on feedback over the past five months from guests and residents.
"As a result, we have decided to not build a fine dining restaurant on the Tourists property at this time and are instead focusing on enhancing our food and drink offerings with a lively new addition."
The nine-room farmhouse was known as Airport Rooms and Tourist Home from 1944 to 1995, accommodating travelers along Route 2 and those who flew into Harriman & West Airport located across the street. The Airport Rooms will be open daily from 5-11 p.m. serving drinks, dinner, snacks and more.
Benjamin Svenson, one of the principals in the motel development, said he couldn't speak to the decisions being made on the restaurants but could on the motel's operations so far.
"Things are going really well. We're blessed to have the audience we've had to date," he said. In barely five months, Tourists has welcomed more than 4,000 guests.
Svenson said the hope was that Tourists would attract people to North Adams and, based on conversations with and feedback from guests, that seems to be the case.
"The vast majority are being introduced to North Adams for the first time," he said.
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Berkshire County Homes Celebrating Holiday Cheer
By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
There's holiday cheer throughout the Berkshires this winter.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
We asked the homeowners questions on their decorations and why they like to light up their houses.
In Great Barrington, Matt Pevzner has decorated his house with many lights and even has a Facebook page dedicated to making sure others can see the holiday joy.
Located at 93 Brush Hill Road, there's more than 61,000 lights strewn across the yard decorating trees and reindeer and even a polar bear.
The Pevzner family started decorating in September by testing their hundreds of boxes of lights. He builds all of his own decorations like the star 10-foot star that shines done from 80-feet up, 10 10-foot trees, nine 5-foot trees, and even the sleigh, and more that he also uses a lift to make sure are perfect each year.
"I always decorated but I went big during COVID. I felt that people needed something positive and to bring joy and happiness to everyone," he wrote. "I strive to bring as much joy and happiness as I can during the holidays. I love it when I get a message about how much people enjoy it. I've received cards thanking me how much they enjoyed it and made them smile. That means a lot."
Pevzner starts thinking about next year's display immediately after they take it down after New Year's. He gets his ideas by asking on his Facebook page for people's favorite decorations. The Pevzner family encourages you to take a drive and see their decorations, which are lighted every night from 5 to 10.
In North Adams, the Wilson family decorates their house with fun inflatables and even a big Santa waving to those who pass by.
The Wilsons start decorating before Thanksgiving and started decorating once their daughter was born and have grown their decorations each year as she has grown. They love to decorate as they used to drive around to look at decorations when they were younger and hope to spread the same joy.
"I have always loved driving around looking at Christmas lights and decorations. It's incredible what people can achieve these days with their displays," they wrote.
The Wilsons' invite you to come and look at their display at 432 Church St. that's lit from 4:30 to 10:30 every night, though if it's really windy, the inflatables might not be up as the weather will be too harsh.
In Pittsfield, Travis and Shannon Dozier decorated their house for the first time this Christmas as they recently purchased their home on Faucett Lane. The two started decorating in November, and hope to bring joy to the community.
"If we put a smile on one child's face driving by, then our mission was accomplished," they said.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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