Don’t simply imagine the excitement of a holiday party guest at Sarah Morgan’s home, experience it! Ventfort Hall, located in Lenox, Massachusetts, is one of the 70 Gilded Age mansions of The Berkshires!
Ventfort is now festively decked for the holidays! The 20-acre property features over a dozen fully decorated trees, including a rainbow-tiered one made from various flowers, lots of tinsel, and a plethora of fir and fairy lights!
What is a Gilded Age cottage?
By Morgan’s standards the mansion was just a simple “summer cottage.” The definition of a cottage during the Gilded Age (1865 to 1901) was a home on at least 20-acres with no less than 20 rooms! Standards today are much different! Sarah took Ventfort to the next level and made things even more extravagant:
Described at the time of its completion as “one of the most beautiful places in Lenox,” the house had “28 rooms, including 15 bedrooms, 13 bathrooms and 17 fireplaces.” Typical of the period, the interior features a soaring three-story great hall and staircase with wood paneling detailing. Other rooms include an elegant salon, paneled library, a dining room, a billiard room and bowling alley.
These 70 cottages were built all around the Berkshires as a holiday homes and pitstops for the wealthy and influential people of the time. The Morgans, including JP, Sarah, Juliet, Mary and Junius, inherited a large sum after their father’s passing (also named Junius).
Sarah used 1 of the 3 million she inherited to build Ventfort Hall. Construction finished in 1893, making the home 130-years-old and valued at the equivalent of $35,000,000 today.
History of Ventfort Hall
The architecture is a Jacobian style. You’ll find intricate etchings on the ceilings and a mixed use of wood and wallpapers that lend the massive property a warm and cozy feeling, perfect for fall and winter seasons in The Berkshires!
Today, Ventfort Hall is a not only a mansion, but a Gilded Age Museum where guests are welcome to witness life in the 1890s. But in its 130 years its reinvented itself and served many purposes and notable guests! The Vanderbilts were known to stay here on several occasions. Oscar-winning film Cider House Rules was filmed at the property and starred Michael Caine, Toby Maguire, and Charlize Theron. Ventfort Hall was also the grounds for the famous Festival House and at one point and even served as a ballet school!
Cottages in The Berkshires
The 69 other sister cottages of Ventfort Hall have different purposes. Some similar, like Edith Wharton’s home, The Mount, and Daniel Chester French’s home, Chesterwood- where tours are welcome.
Other summer cottages have transformed into lodging areas. Canyon Ranch is now a famous wellness resort in The Berkshires, and Wheatleigh positions itself as a historic country estate with 19 guest rooms and suites!
Learn more about visiting Ventfort Hall. You can enjoy a proper teatime on Tuesdays at Ventfort Hall and stop by before January 1 for a stunning holiday-themed tour of this elaborate Gilded Age property!
Find Ventfort Hall at
104 Walker St, Lenox, MA 01240