Following extensive renovations, three-storied boutique properties located in downtown Lenox are reopening together as part of The Lenox Collection, a newly reimagined family of inns connected by their deep historical roots in the town and elevated contextual design. As part of the reopening is Ophelia’s, a 66-seat restaurant and bar offering farm-to-table comfort food in an intimate indoor-outdoor setting, with locally sourced ingredients and a curated cocktail list. New York-based firm 388 Ventures acquired the properties in 2021 and brought on an independent hotel management company, Life House, to lead design and branding, as well as oversee all hotel and F&B operations leveraging their tech-enabled management platform.
“We’re pleased to announce the launch of The Lenox Collection, with a design language that pays homage to each property’s history while catering directly to the clientele visiting the increasingly popular four-season destination that the Berkshires have become. With Ophelia’s reopening right downtown, we’re excited to be a mainstay in the already impressive Lenox culinary scene,” says Russell Lange, partner at 388 Ventures.
At the heart of the collection is the Whitlock – formally The Church Street Inn – built-in 1771 by John Whitlock, a local farmer who turned his two-room farmhouse into an inn for stagecoach travelers. The property now takes cues from its natural surroundings with a rustic and warm feel reminiscent of its farmhouse origins. The Whitlock’s bar and restaurant, Ophelia’s, pays homage to the ingredients and labors of the hotel’s namesake. With locally-inspired farm-to-table cuisine with dishes featuring herbs & garnishes from local purveyors, Ophelia’s is already becoming a favorite among locals, guests, and downtown bypassers.
Located in the historic center of town is The Constance – formally the Rookwood Inn – which was built in 1825 as The Williams Tavern. In the 1880s it was purchased by Frederick Constance Peters, a businessman from England, who turned the property into ancillary lodging for owners of Lenox’s famed Gilded Age estates. The inn has been completely reimagined with an extensive renovation to restore and enhance the elegant charm and whimsical character of the storied property with the benefit of modern guest amenities.
On the north side of town is The Dewey – formally the Birchwood Inn – which was originally built by Israel Dewey, a founding member of Lenox’s Continental Congress Committee when the town was incorporated in 1767. Over the years, the site has taken on many lives, owned by various influential figures in the Berkshires. Today, the newly-reappointed inn carries on its rich tradition of hospitality with elevated guest room interiors and stately common areas.
“We are thrilled to reintroduce The Lenox Collection as the Berkshire hospitality landscape continues to mature,” says Bryan Dunn, Managing Director and Head of Growth at Life House. “In the past year alone, the market has seen luxury lifestyle brand Miraval open their first East Coast property, world-renowned designer Ken Fulk acquire the Blantyre, and Life House breathes new life into the Wheatleigh, a Leading Hotels of World property. The Lenox Collection delivers a locally-rooted boutique experience at a more accessible price point than these Five Star luxury hotels, catering to a large and diverse audience that is currently underserved by existing options in the market.”
Life House is a vertically integrated hotel software & operations platform focused on increasing profitability and reliability for independent hoteliers. Life House was founded in 2017 as one of the only vertically integrated asset-light hotel companies backed by institutional venture and private equity investors. The company is ambitiously investing in operational systems to make it far more profitable, predictable, and seamless for owners while making the guest experience more reliable for travelers. Today the company has nearly 60 hotels in its portfolio across North America.
For more information visit www.life-house.com.
