Wheatleigh, the iconic Berkshires Great Estate and former five-star hotel, is being listed for sale by Cindy Welch, Luxury Real Estate Agent of LandVest | Christie’s International Real Estate, for the first time in over forty years. Wheatleigh is offered at $15,000,000.
Rarely is a property of such landmark historical significance carefully restored, renovated to the highest standards of 21st century design and comfort, and offered for sale. Wheatleigh is a true gem situated in a 21-acre private park designed by Frederick Law Olmsted with grand lake and mountain views, just a short walk from Tanglewood.
The estate has a rich history. It was originally commissioned and built by Henry Cook in 1893 as a wedding present for his daughter upon her marriage to the Count de Heredia. The building’s original design, based on a Florentine palazzo, was created by Peabody and Stearns. The grandeur and elegance of the palazzo have been retained in the reimagining of the famed contemporary design team of Calvin Tsao and Zack McKown. Wheatleigh still has its great hall, grand bedrooms, many with private balconies, and beautiful porticos, but the lines are even cleaner and the light brighter.
“For the past four decades, Wheatleigh has epitomized luxury as an historic destination hotel,” says broker Cindy Welch. “Now, it is poised for reinvention to its glory as a magnificent family retreat or private club.”
The Simon family, owners of the Wheatleigh for the past forty years, believe “that if architectural wonders like Wheatleigh were allowed to vanish they could never be replaced.” Their dream was to preserve and use this wonderful treasure in a way that would make it as relevant for the 21st century as it was when it was built in 1893. It is their hope now that Wheatleigh will find a new steward with a vision for what this extraordinary property can be.
“We fully expect that this rare opportunity to own an iconic Berkshire landmark will attract strong interest from a diverse range of buyers looking for a multi-generational compound, a private estate, or commercial re-use of the property. The possibilities with this exceptional property are wide ranging,” said Slater Anderson, Managing Director of Real Estate at LandVest | Christie’s International Real Estate.
