HB Exclusive: 388 Ventures and Life House launch The Lenox Collection

Following extensive renovations, three boutique properties located in downtown Lenox, MA are reopening together as part of The Lenox Collection, a newly reimagined family of inns connected by their deep historic roots in the town and elevated contextual design.

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 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,” Russell Lange, partner, 388 Ventures, told Hotel Business. “With Ophelia’s reopening right downtown, we’re excited to be a mainstay in the already impressive Lenox culinary scene.”

At the heart of the collection is The Whitlock—formerly 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 and garnishes from local purveyors, Ophelia’s is already becoming a favorite among locals, guests and downtown passersby.

Located in the historic center of town is The Constance—formerly 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 guestroom interiors and stately common areas.

“We are thrilled to reintroduce The Lenox Collection as the Berkshires hospitality landscape continues to mature,” Bryan Dunn, managing director/head of growth, Life House, told Hotel Business. “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 breathe 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.”