Entire home

The Kemble- Built by a US Secretary of State in Lenox

The Kemble- Built by a US Secretary of State in Lenox

Photo gallery for The Kemble- Built by a US Secretary of State in Lenox

The Kemble - a registered Great Estate
Foyer
Foyer grand staircase
Foyer balcony
Sitting room

Overview of The Kemble- Built by a US Secretary of State in Lenox

Reviews
10 out of 10 Exceptional
13 bedrooms13+ bathroomsSleeps 351394 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Pet-friendlyPet-friendlyPet-friendly

Enjoy the area

Map
Lenox, MA
  • Popular LocationVentfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum4 min walk
  • Popular LocationShakespeare and Company6 min walk
  • Popular LocationTanglewood Music Center3 min drive
  • AirportAlbany, NY (ALB-Albany Intl.)57 min drive

Rooms & beds

13 bedrooms (sleeps 35)

Bedroom 1

+22
6 Single Beds, 5 King Beds, 7 Queen Beds, 4 Double Beds and 4 Double Sofa Beds

13 bathrooms, 1 half bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub

Bathroom 2

Bathroom 3

Bathroom 4

Bathroom 5

Bathroom 6

Bathroom 7

Bathroom 8

Bathroom 9

Bathroom 10

Bathroom 11

Bathroom 12

Bathroom 13

Bathroom 14

Spaces

Porch or lanai
Kitchen
Separate dining area
Garden

About this property

The Kemble- Built by a US Secretary of State in Lenox

The Kemble Berkshires is a registered Great Estate built in the 1880s for a U.S. Secretary of State and New Jersey State Senator - now newly renovated by Shared Estates with bright minimalist finishes and world-class amenities. The property has manicured landscaping with massive rolling views of the Stockbridge Bowl. Whether you want to relax in the library room with its array of books from the early 1900s, jam out in the music room, snuggle up in front of one of the home's seven fireplaces or enjoy a drink with a friend at the private bar, you will find beautiful spaces to enjoy in groups or in solitude. 100% carbon neutral. Events up to 175.

The Kemble is the top grossing, #1 vacation rental in the Berkshires out of roughly 1,000 listings. Owner's previous property was showcased on Netflix's "World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals" series.
The property offers a dining room (including custom farmhouse dining table), a professional kitchen, herb and vegetable garden, fire pit and expansive multi-level stone patios and decks. Events up to 175 are permitted and a tent is provided for rain contingency (first weekend in May to third weekend in October), commercial kitchen items are also provided. Indoor walls are sound-insulated for privacy. 
We provide a long list of amenities, for kids big and small we offer a virtual reality gaming room, PS4 gaming setup, retro arcade, foosball table, ping-pong, board games and more. For outdoors you will find bocce, croquet, tennis and badminton equipment, large Jenga, paddle board, kayak and more.
The Kemble Berkshires is an innovative social equity vehicle. Owned by 143 investors from Main Street and Wall Street through Shared Estates' equity crowdfunding model with investments ranging from $1,000 to $100,000, the property is part of a transformation that levels the real estate ownership playing field.
The Berkshires is one of the country's top cultural centers and the Kemble is steps away from many leading national institutions: Tanglewood (summer home to the Boston Symphony Orchestra), Shakespeare and Company, The Norman Rockwell Museum, Edith Wharton's The Mount, Clark Art, Jacobs Pillow and more. The Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (largest in the US), Kripalu (largest yoga center), Williams College (#1 Liberal Arts College in the US) are all nearby.
The Berkshires is also home to a variety of outdoor destinations: Bousquet, Butternut, Catamount (longest zip line in the USA) and Jiminy Peak.
TVs can be found in most bedrooms. Fully ADA compliant accessibility ramps, bedrooms and baths help make entry easy for all. Safety is our top priority, with discrete sprinkler systems, fire ladders and more in every room for piece of mind for all. We provide popcorn, biscotti, teas, cocoa, candy and more. A welcome basket of local goods and fresh cut flowers greet your party.
The Kemble donates 1% of net income to The Lenox Library. You will find a variety of sculpture and original fine art installed throughout.
Most of our stays are multigenerational family trips, reunions, friends getting together or retreats, however as a registered Great Estate we host many events as well (capped at 175) - our events fees:
No amplified outdoor music:
 <50 guests: $2,500
<100 guests: $5,000 (or $50 / guest)
<175 guests: $9,500 (or 54 / guest)
Amplified outdoor music (we are limited to 10 such events annually)
<100 guests: $11,500 (or $115 / guest)
<175 guests: $13,500 (or $77 / guest)
From the first weekend in May to the end of October event fees also include use of our 44 foot round sailcloth tent.
We have over 5,500 square feet of dedicated parking. The three acres are very private, but you are also steps to downtown Lenox, the heart of the Berkshire hills. Lenox is home not only to a variety of leading cultural institutions, but also to many fine and farm-to-table dining experiences.

Property manager

Daniel Dus
Premier Host
Premier Host

Amenities

Pet-friendly

House Rules

Check in after 4:00 PM
Minimum age to rent: 25
Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17

Events

Events allowed

Pets

Pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

Damage and incidentals

You will be responsible for any damage to the rental property caused by you or your party during your stay.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher and a first aid kit
Property Registration Number C0347781520

About the area

Lenox

Located in Lenox, this villa is in the city centre. Guido's Marketplace and Lee Prime Outlets are worth checking out if shopping is on the agenda, while those wishing to experience the area's natural beauty can explore Pleasant Valley Wilderness Sanctuary and Fairfield Brook WMA. Travelling with kids? Consider The Bookstore and Berkshire Scenic Railway Museum.
Map
Lenox, MA

What's nearby

  • Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum - 4 min walk
  • Lenox Library - 5 min walk
  • Shakespeare and Company - 6 min walk
  • The Mount - 2 min drive
  • Tanglewood Music Center - 3 min drive

Getting around

  • Pittsfield Intermodal Transportation Center - 13 min drive
  • Pittsfield, MA (PSF-Pittsfield Municipal) - 12 min drive

Restaurants

  • Burger King - 7 min drive
  • Antimony Brewing - Craft Brewery & Kitchen - 4 min drive
  • The Locker Room - 7 min drive
  • Harvest Moon Restaurant - 4 min drive
  • Lucky's Ice Cream & Grill - 6 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is The Kemble- Built by a US Secretary of State in Lenox pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at The Kemble- Built by a US Secretary of State in Lenox?

Check-in begins at 4:00 PM.

What time is check-out at The Kemble- Built by a US Secretary of State in Lenox?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is The Kemble- Built by a US Secretary of State in Lenox located?

This family-friendly Lenox villa is located in a rural location, within a 10-minute walk of Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum, The Bookstore and Shakespeare and Company. Wyndhurst Golf & Club and Lenox Library are also within 1 mile (2 km).

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
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Rating 10 - Excellent. 14 out of 15 reviews" "
Rating 8 - Good. 1 out of 15 reviews" "
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 15 reviews" "
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 15 reviews" "
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 15 reviews" "

10/10

Cleanliness

9.8/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.8/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Susan B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful accommodation!
We were a big group..16 adults and 7 children. The families with children were well situated with nearby or adjacent rooms. Everyone had comfortable rooms which afforded privacy and quiet times. Each room had its own beautiful newly renovated bathrooms ( with great water pressure). The living and dining rooms were large and comfortable. The dining table was a loooong table with benches all around which easily sat our crowd. The backyard was gorgeous with beautiful views of the distant mountains. We had a big bonfire with s’mores as the sun set. And a big family football game. It was just wonderful!!!
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2023

10/10 Excellent

Katie M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Best Weekend Ever
My husband and I rented The Kemble to host a post- elopement reception. We had 65 guests and it was the perfect venue for our event. Everyone had an amazing time, and the tent, serving platters, etc. made it so easy to host a large gathering. We rented The Kemble for three nights and spent the other two relaxing and taking in the amazing view with close family. Highly recommend!
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Jacquelyn B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful!
Our family of 20 enjoyed our stay at the Kemble immensely and would definitely come back again! Thank you Daniel and your staff for making our reunion a delightful experience!
Stayed 5 nights in Aug 2023

10/10 Excellent

Shari K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Father-in-law’s 80th birthday celebration
We had a wonderful time at the Kemble. We were 22 adults and two children and there was so much space for everyone. The covered deck was great as an outdoor space as it was a very rainy weekend, but we even managed to get some time in the vast yard playing some wiffle ball. When we had a couple of small issues they responded quickly even though it was late in the evening. We had a fantastic time with the extended family together in this spacious home.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Molly M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Company Get-Together
Neat property close to everything. A few hiccups with check-in process (pillows/linens not on some of the beds, getting oriented in the space could have been made easier with printed book, etc.), but property manager was very responsive. Housekeepers drove to property late at night when we lost power (whole neighborhood did) to bring flashlights. Overall, minor things that were remedied quickly. Beautiful, thoughtfully-furnished home in a fantastic location!
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

About the host

Hosted by Daniel Dus

Host profile image
Serial social entrepreneur focused on solar energy and the democratization of exclusive real estate with over two billion pounds of carbon pollution displaced. Berkshires native. Art and book collector. Philanthropist. Developed The Playhouse, featured on Netflix's "World's Most Amazing Vacation Rentals" Series.

Why they chose this property

This is a true mansion, built by architects Rotch and Tilden. Everything is overbuilt - from hardwood beams to sound insulated indoor walls - but it still feels cozy, with a myriad of spaces to disappear into when you like. The views of the Stockbridge Bowl from bedrooms, porch and yard are among the finest in the Berkshires. We love having a catered meal for extended friends and family then having a walk through Lenox, and finally a night cap either on the massive bluestone patio or in front of one of the property's seven fireplaces.

What makes this property unique

On this property, you feel like you can achieve total solitude, but you are steps from some of the country's greatest cultural attractions. The brand new rehabilitation process ensured that the meeting of history and modern minimalist luxury resulted in an open, bright space made to facilitate relaxation, connection and rejuvenation.

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Premier Host
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