Ventfort Hall Gilded Age Mansion & Museum — Attraction in Lenox

We have visited several restored houses in the surrounding area that date back to the Gilded Age, and we were very impressed with them. Our special favorites were Edith Wharton’s The Mount and Robert Todd Lincoln’s Hildene, both of which are beautifully restored and fascinating historically. In part, such comparison is the basis of our disappointment today at Ventfort Hall. The $17 senior entrance was much too high, given what there is on offer at this time.

The house is in very early stages of restoration, smelled strongly of mildew in some places (not surprising, given the rainy weather that has inundated the region), and lacked almost all of the original furnishings. While architecturally interesting, the overall impression throughout is that of a jumble of stuff, all jammed in together. For instance, the house is host to several collections of different sorts belonging to individuals who have lent them out for display. There was a collection of fans that seemed quite beautiful but that are difficult to make out in the various glass-fronted cases or bookcases in which they are stored. The room that appeared most complete was “done” by someone who specializes in Berkshire furnishings; nothing was original except for bedspreads and a photo on the desk.

In addition, our tour constantly encountered a large group of people who were preparing for a wedding that wAs to take place the next day. We constantly had to stop in our tracks or detour to avoid running into this other group. While it is clear that such events are big money-makers for venues that hold them, it was nonetheless annoying to be so hampered. Perhaps Ventfort should be closed not only on the day of the event, but the day...

One of the most enjoyable experiences in an old mansion ever.

stepping back into the late 1800’s, a beautiful piece of contemporary architecture restored (not fully) to a near perfect memorial. Some original ceilings, fireplaces, and furniture still wardrobes this historical home. One piece in particular is the piano in the grand room-the original instrument that dwelled in the Morgan home in the late 1800’s. JP Morgan, that is. The house is open most days from 10am-4pm to tour. Make sure you set aside plenty of time to see all of the wonders inside or choose the opportunity to go on a guided tour with a helpful and knowledgeable staff! I really appreciate great historical sites and museums and this felt like both in one. You can walk the grounds to the previous gardens and also down the long dirt path to the carriage house, where the Morgans stabled fine horses. Just peep outside because the carriage house is still in rough shape and cannot be entered. Pic...

I have visited many historic homes, especially those from the Gilded Age. Ventfort Hall was a bit of a disappointment.

The good: the Halloween decorations are amazing and I've heard the ghost tours are great. The history of the house and the various owners/renovations are very interesting. Restoration efforts are also an interesting part of the history.

That being said, renovation is in very early stages. Most rooms are not open (you can only see 2 rooms on the upper floors, which are not decorated or furnished at all). The admission process are really high for what you get at the house. There are no grounds to walk on. The exterior of the house, while beautiful, is unkempt.

I would advise visitors to the area to skip Ventfort until they can afford additional renovations and updates. I would suggest other local historic...