The Mount, Edith Wharton's Home

We spent the day at The Mount and had a wonderful experience. The house is beautifully maintained and rooms are set up nicely. Lots of sign and staff to explain everything. The gardens are really beautiful. A very nice way to spend an afternoon.

Absolutely stunning house and gardens. I would love to travel here more often if we lived in the area. It looked like a Pinterest board come to life! The gardens alone are worth the trip! Would recommend an hour each for the house and the gardens/trails (2 hours total at least). Everyone we talked to was very pleasant and knowledgeable. Would highly recommend!!

Would highly recommend visiting here if you’re in the area. Some of the most beautiful grounds I’ve ever walked through. We did not do the home tour, but felt like we got a great experience just walking the grounds and property, which you can do for free. It is very well kept and a stunning area to visit.

11.22.24 This review is only for the Nightwood at The Mount. We bought our tickets after we parked, but folks are encouraged to buy them ahead of time. They're $27pp. The walk is outdoors so wear comfy shoes and warm clothes as this takes from 30-50 minutes. You walk and listen to music while you see incredible light displays. It truly is a magical experience. Staff is along the way to make sure everyone is safe. The pathway is lit so you won't get lost or trip. After your walk, you can head back to the car or it's encouraged to visit the bookstore indoors. The bathrooms are also located here. There's also an outdoor rest area with heaters and a food truck offering warm and cold drinks and snacks.

As an avid traveler myself I find Edith Wharton remarkable. Edith Wharton’s travel writing captures her keen observations of Europe, Morocco, and other places she visited with elegance and wit. Her works in this genre, such as Italian Backgrounds (1905), A Motor-Flight through France (1908), and In Morocco (1920), combine her appreciation for art, architecture, and landscapes with insights into cultural and social nuances. Wharton explored each region with an eye for historical context and a nuanced understanding of beauty, reflecting her personal tastes and critical observations. Her travel books not only describe the physical and aesthetic qualities of these places but also reveal her complex relationship with American and European cultures. Visiting her home is a beautiful frame in which to see the person. Remarkable preservation work. “Life is always either a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the tightrope.” ― Edith Wharton

I was very excited to visit The Mount. I love Edith Wharton and wanted to see her writing retreat, especially given that she co-authored The Decoration of Houses. I'm certain that in it's heyday, it was fabulous. The organization has done a spectacular job restoring the home and trying to acquire the scattered artifacts of Teddy and Edith Wharton. The guided tour was informative and moved at a nice pace. The sculptures throughout the grounds were a fantastic bonus. Very nice nature walks to boot. My only complaint is I felt that a few of the staff seemed to view visitors as a necessary annoyance rather than paying guests. Otherwise, a very nice morning out.

Beautiful property with plenty of walking trails and beautiful gardens. One of my favorite features of the property was by the main house. If you walk around to the back, there are “natural” steps in the grass hillside. Very cool! LOTS of parking. And, they do ghost tours in September!

The Mount is a must-see in the Berkshires! I highly recommend the guided tours of the home and the gardens-- it was incredibly interesting and beautiful! The guides were first-rate. I could spend all day reading the signage about Edith Whartons impressive and accomplished life -- what an inspiration!

I really enjoyed the 90 minutes I spent here. Not only was the tour guide engaging and very knowledge, but I genuinely appreciated learning about Edith. Prior to the visit, I never heard of Edith Wharton, but I developed so much respect for her after attending this tour. The house and grounds are also both gorgeous. Highly recommend!

This is a really cool house where much of it is open for touring. You can do a self-guided or guided tour, and since much the furniture is reproduction, you can sit on them, which is really uncommon in old houses. So it's just like sitting on fancy old furniture. Our tour guide was very knowledgeable in explaining Edith Wharton's personal and professional life. There was also quite a bit of the history after Wharton moved out and before it became a museum. The tour goes a little quickly, but you're allowed to go read signs and look around more after the tour. There is also a cafe and gardens on sight. On a nice day, it's perfect to walk around. It's a bit out in the country, but it's a nice site to visit.

The grounds alone, with sculptures, vistas and gardens are worth seeing. We took the 1 hour guided tour of the house which was very interesting. They do have free audio tours.

I came to the Mount with my dad and our dog for a leisurely, winter stroll on the day after Thanksgiving. Can you believe it's free to walk these magnificent grounds?! And that they're dog friendly?! We took our time going from the main entrance all the way to the back where the forest paths begin and really took in the sites. I get my love for photography from my pops so we had a grand ol' time snapping photos of all the cool sculptures and breathtaking views. There is so much variety here that you really can find some incredible angles without even trying. We got a chance to see the preliminary setup for their upcoming Nightwood light show, which is dubbed "A fantastical journey through sound & light." I anticipate that it will be absolutely fantastical indeed and hope to make one evening!

Review #550 is on the wonderfully ethereal experience of NightWood at the Mount! Looking for something other than the the typical Christmas Lights display and this definitely fits the bill. Tickets were reasonable, parking plentiful and staff was helpful, stationed at many points during the walk. The path was well maintained but definitely wear weather appropriate footwear. The combination of the natural setting with theatrical style lighting accompanied by specially composed music was incredible. This event was far better than I could have anticipated! Hard to describe, just see it for yourself! We cannot wait to come back to this property in the warmer weather to see these gardens in bloom and tour the Mount!

Spent a lovely day at the Mount with my dear friend. If you've never been, you are in for a treat! She became a best-selling author and the first woman awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction... And she also designed and built the mount in 1902. We enjoyed touring this historic site and will definitely go back again. Favorite parts were the kitchen and scullery, along with the sunken flower garden and Italian walled garden. Last but not least definitely go and check out the pet cemetery!

What a beautiful and interesting museum. The Mount was restored after years of neglect starting in 1998. As you walk through this astounding home each room gives the history of the era and Edith Wharton and her husband and dogs. When you leave you tour the grounds which I can only imagine are beautiful in the summer. We went back in the evening and took advantage of the seasonal light show! Great visits!

The Mount represents the life and writings of a great American novelist , Edith Wharton. Beautiful restoration and knowledgeable staff. We did the self guided tour and really enjoyed reading all the information. Would actually go again because I'm sure there are things we missed. Unfortunately it rained heavily the day we went and only got to enjoy part of the sculpture gardens .

We made a visit on Fourth of July- arriving after brunch. The grounds are free to roam and we saw a good dozen interesting art exhibits on the quarter mile trek to the house. It was gorgeous! We decided to pay the $20 pp for the self guided tour of the home. With 3 floors, there was a lot to see and I'd guess 85% of the house was open to visit. Lots of "posters" to learn about Edith- very interesting stuff- scandalous even for those days. I can't wait to read up on her. After the home, we walked around the garden- just stunning! I could have spent a long while there! The only place we didn't check out was the woods. Paths allowed you to walk thru the woods but we didn't see many people going back there and with numerous CAUTION OF BEARS signs on the perimeter, we decided against it. It was a great way to spend the day!

My family recently visited the Berkshires and we enjoyed a frigid masked walk through the beautiful grounds of The Mount. While the house itself is currently closed to visitors the grounds are open. It's free to visit and there's ample parking. Even in mid March the property is stunning. We reflected in the pet cemetery and remarked at how incredible it must be to visit when the gardens are in full bloom. We are already planning a summer escape to the Berkshires in order to see The Mount and other attractions in all their glory.

We happened to be driving through the area and found this beautiful respite. We enjoyed a walk through the grounds which included many gardens, pathways and a trail in the woods. All was free, and a perfect way to get a little exercise after being on the road for several hours. Next time, we hope that the house itself is open for tours.

This was our third visit to Edith Wharton's early 20th century home and the very best from the standpoint of weather. With mild temps and no rain, the gardens surrounding the mansion are exquisite for strolling and looking, and we thoroughly enjoyed our time outdoors. Some of the contemporary statuary seems rather out of sync with this old-fashioned house, but others may disagree. Whatever, the walking paths are simply wonderful. And so is the house, of course. We opted not to take a guided tour because we've done that (we do recommend it for first-timers here), so we took our time and peeked here and there and had a marvelous time at our own pace. That also enabled us to sit down on the terrace and have some coffee and admire the news over the estate, which are pretty much spectacular. We would urge others to make a stop here; you'll be happy you did. All in all, a fabulous Saturday visit. We're delighted the house has re-opened so everyone can enjoy its splendors.

We visited The Mount, Edith Wharton's Mansion recently. It's really a great experience and quite beautiful. If you're just going to walk the grounds and the gardens (and not enter the mansion), it is free. You can park at the main parking lot in front of the admissions area or you can drive all the way back to the main mansion and park to the right of the house. If you enter and explore the house there is admission that is required (sticker placed on shirt). Although it looks quite large from its exterior shots, the actual mansion is just 16,600 ft.². You can go to the Terrace Café on the front porch overlooking the Italian flower garden as well as the Walled garden. Very impressive views and a nice place to get something fresh. There are quite a few modern art sculptures on the walk from the stables up to and around the main mansion. If you appreciate this type of art, you will want to park in the main parking lot as you enter before the ticket booth. Certainly a great experience and some neat Insight to Edith Wharton and her life at The Mount as well as her intellectual ambitions and literary accomplishments.

What a beautiful place to visit! I highly recommend going to The Mount. The grounds are lovely, which are free to roam around, but the inside of the house is worth the money as well. The museum committee has done a great job providing facts and tales about Edith Wharton's life.

Beautiful grounds all-around. We arrived early to a wedding and walked pretty much everywhere we could within reason. If only I were in hiking clothes and not my suit, because there were plenty of little trails around that were worthy of exploring. The inside of the house is a great space. It's both a museum and a sitting area if you want to use it as such.

Awesome badass house my first time here I can't wait to post the videos to the Valley Paranormal YouTube channel please subscribe . The staff were really cool I enjoyed my time here more then Ventfort Hall recently. I can't complain to much it was free with EBT but the one issue was the people to many people in one house I enjoyed my time with my family but you couldn't get one second to yourself with someone in the volunteer group snooping around thinking your doing something wrong when only you got a EMF in your hand talking to the dead I don't think that's wrong. I was able to paranormal investigate a little bit but people were always curious if people wanted to ask they could of asked me what are you doing I would have no problem explaining what I was doing one lady in a blue dress asked me by the pet cemetery what's the device in your hand that's all people have to do is ask I mean one dude had a smart comment and was like why is someone walking around gravestones and flimming it has to be for attention I wanted to turn around and tell the guy to fuck off but figured no because that's what people like him look for from people that are investigating one thing I can say it's staff friendly but if people wanna run there mouths they need to put 2 face mask on to keep the mouth shut when all I was doing was walking around and making a paranormal Investigating video I mean the house is history too who wouldn't wanna film that for a YouTube video. I'm more of a classic guy virtual tours aren't my thing I like in person so I can see the history in person for myself. Future reference if your worried someone is doing something there not supposed to either ask what are you doing or mind your own business the staff were cool I had no issues with anyone that works there.

Sadly, I didn't know who Edith Wharton was until I stepped into her home, and had my family not booked a tour here I may never have had given it a chance. I strongly recommend waiting and joining a group tour through the house. My tour guide was Nathan, and although it was only his 10th tour, he was extremely knowledgeable of her life and presented it in a very entertaining, content-packed way. If it wasn't for him, there would've been a ton of detail in the house I would've simply glossed over. Every tiny piece of that house was built with a purpose and unless you're into architecture, you may need a bit of assistance to truly recognize the mind behind it. The gardens out back as well as the abstract artwork along the trail were also just as captivating as the architecture of the house. I'm not one for abstract art, but then again, I could be wrong. Nathan did his job very well. Through the content, passion, and beauty I got from the entire experience, I not only gained knowledge of Edith Wharton's life, but several sparks of interest and extra curiosity. Even maybe diving into a book or two of hers? In my opinion, that tells a lot about how the museum was organized. Definitely a huge success on their part!

Once upon an blustery Eve, I set upon a haunted walk with ease An estate so grand to hold a thousand serfs We went forth to find the spectral house of Mirth... That is my poetic way of saying I went on the Edith Wharton house ghost walk last Friday. It's been something ive always wanted to do since I found out they have ghost walks, so another bucket list item down! The tour starts in the stables, which are nicer than most places I could hope to live. The tour guide (and his assistant who was in charge of wrangling stragglers) introduced us to photos of the family and examples of spirit photography (so many orbs) that had been taken over the years. In short summary the tour progressed to the second floor of the stables, the pet cemetery, and finally the house. Lots of walking and lots of dark - although limited flashlights are provided, bringing your own is a good idea. The tour guide was a good story teller with a flair for the dramatic, he had excellent use of flashlight lighting to enhance his "gotchas" on his tales. There was a moment out front when he was reading an except of Wharton's thoughts on the paranormal when the door creeked open behind him. Uber spooky - except it turns out there was another person in the house manning the gift shop, using the side stairs to close doors behind the group. Makes the front door a touch suspect. Even in the dark you can appreciate how beautiful the house is. I didn't know anything about Wharton before the tour (yes, it does make it an odd bucket list goal then, thank you for noticing!) but now want to read her books... at least the ghost stories. Suspect trick aside, it was a beautiful creepy house with a great atory-teller, and I can't wait to do a day tour! Definitely worth the trip to Lenox! Final advice - hope for a small group. Ours was at least 13 people and it was hard to huddle in some of the smaller rooms. (And the gift shop employee kept reprimanding people to keep up with the group, so no lagging behind...)

Thank you, Edith Wharton, for creating this serene and manageable garden far away from the Lenox scene yet close enough to be accessible. Happy to spend a late summer afternoon in your aura admiring how your gardeners have tended the asters and pink turtleheads. Topped off by a glass of rose at the Terrace Garden with a fruit and cheese platter that could feed a family of 6! (Took home the leftovers.) I forgive you for writing that tearjerker Ethan Frome, which we were forced to read in 7th grade.

Beautiful grounds. Self guide tour. Unfortunately they don't have a lot of signs around so it was really difficult to know where we could go and where we couldn't...assuming that there was no limitation. Entrance was reasonably priced but the one experience was watch Twelfth Night in the shaded area right outside of the Mount. The cast did a great job. Really entertaining and I was surprised to know that they travel to different places to perform but this location they really incorporated their surroundings to their act.

Perfect idea on a rainy day! We did a self tour which also had a student discount. You can walk around her home and read blurbs in each room that tells a progressive story of her life as well as the area around Lenox. You can also walk for free around the garden. I wish there had been more film to watch or maybe headphones accessible to hear the guided tour. The house had a mapped pathway due to COVID and restrictions on the number of people per room and I felt very safe.

Although there were no tours the grounds were spectacular in autumn. We look forward to tours and viewing Edith Wharton's home

Besides being the summer home of Edith Wharton. I believe the first woman to win a Pulitzer Prize, they have an enchanting evening of Jazz on the back terrace overlooking the gardens a On Friday nights from 5-8. It is a covered area, so rain or shine you are .... Covered !!! If you are in the area, go. I promise you will fall in love.

The tour was wonderful! Anne knew so much and really made the experience enjoyable! We loved the gift shop, the gardens, and the sculptures. I wish we could have had lunch at the cafe but everything was sold out by the time we got up there after the 12:30tour. Next time, we visit it will be the self guided tour to plan for a lunch!! Thank you for the amazing experience!

The Mount itself is magnificent! One can't help appreciating the care and extreme attention to detail throughout Edith Wharton's opulent home, and the overall effect is incredibly authentic. Each room has been painstakingly renovated to reflect Wharton's exquisite style and individual taste. The gardens are impeccably maintained, and one can almost picture Edith and her various guests sitting on the terrace, sipping their lemonade, and taking in the spectacular greenery all while discussing the latest news and gossip of their day. It surely can bring a smile to one's face! If I were to criticize, it would be the numerous, modern-day sculptures scattered about the grounds that unquestionably detract from the natural beauty of the 113 acres that Wharton worked so hard to create. While walking the gardens, one may actually imagine being transported back to Wharton's time period and reflect on all that she meticulously designed. And while the artists of today are undoubtedly gifted, I feel their talents would be better received and appreciated if their sculptures were placed in a modern art gallery rather than on the grounds of The Mount. Wharton's home has been carefully renovated and furnished to showplace her unique style where authenticity and impecable, historical representation are paramount. It's a real shame that these modern sculptures have been allowed to blemish The Mount's carefully designed landscape and so boldly detract from the splendor and authenticity for which Wharton's home is known.

Amazing!!! Adults and older teens loved it equally. Such a great day spent inside and outside!

This is the loveliest house with the nicest staff. The grounds are open for people to walk around for free. There are trails and you can check out Edith Wharton's pet cemetery. Sometimes there are contemporary art installations outside as well. During the early days of Covid, the grounds were open for people to walk at--even when public state parks were closed. The whole restoration, preservation, and scholars at The Mount are all motivated by their love of Edith Wharton, literature, and this era of American history. It's sad to think that this mansion almost did not make it--after being a girl's school and theater company headquarters, funding allowed for restoration of the house to bring it back to period. The books in Edith's library all belonged to her! There are hundred year old books in there that are underlined by Edith herself, and others given to Edith by the likes of Henry James, inscribed. The gift shop has a lot of great gems to bring home. Another great thing about this historic house is that it's accessible! There is an elevator, and handicapped parking right by the accessible entrance. This organization is all about continuing to preserve and restore the house. It's a literary treasure and an important architectural site representative of the Gilded Age in American history. So many other mansions and buildings from this time, from all across the country, have been demolished. It's really amazing that The Mount exists in this state. I love Edith's bedroom, where she would write in bed, and you can go up and see a recreation of her bedroom, as well as her boudoir. The Mount is like a museum. Edith was such a prolific writer, and the first woman to win a Pulitzer. She wrote a book a year! There aren't many places left like this in America. The Mount is a national treasure. They should really get more public, government, and grant funding to continue the preservation of the house.

We toured, with a large group, the beautiful mansion and gardens. The staff is welcoming, friendly and organized. There is a wonderful terrace overlooking the beautiful gardens with a snack bar. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the tours and the stories. A step back in time to the Guided Age.

Beautiful gardens and beautiful setting. The guide we had was super enthusiastic and nice. The house is pretty neat on the inside but not super historic. They have restored some of it but not necessarily the way Edith had it. For example, they have installed leopard print carpets going up the stairs (eeek!). I think if they continue to add correct period furnishings and inject some more history to the inside of the house it could be fantastic. Go on a beautiful day because the gem is really the outside. What my ratings mean: 1 star: Horrible. I'm annoyed I wasted my time and/or money here. 2 star: Not bad but nothing special. A decent place if you can't find something else. I'd equate this to something like McDonald's. 3 star: I enjoyed my experience there and would go back to try or do more things there. 4 star: I loved it and would be excited to go back. I'd also recommend it to a friend. 5 star: A real gem of a place. A must on anyone's list.

Historic homes can be revelatory, mildly interesting, or deadly dull. I've seen my share of the good, bad, and ugly. It is rare that a home reveals the life, talents, and aspirations of their owners. Fortunately, Edith Wharton's Berkshire home, The Mount, is one of those places that make it all worthwhile. Having read several of her books, I knew she was talented, providing her readers keen insights to the stifling social conventions and stratification of the Gilded Age. Little did I know how driven, smart, single minded, and revolutionary she truly was. The house reveals many sides to the author. Okay, full disclosure. Working as a curator at a historic site, I can be fairly biased and bitchy about what I see and hear. My experience at The Mount was quite good. Although you can walk through the 'cottage' on your own (with a rather sparse brochure), I chose to take a guided tour. The young docent was earnest, chatty, and seemed relatively knowledgeable on Ms Wharton and her home. The nonprofit that runs the place seems to have weathered their financial storm; the house looked great and the gardens magnificent. The two temporary exhibits in the second floor bedrooms provided further insight into the talents, activism, and legacy of Wharton and her work. Upon leaving The Mount I felt imbued with the spirit of Edith. This is the power of place; this is what a historic house SHOULD provide: insight, awe, and appreciation...an emotional response of WOW rather than 'why the hell did we come here.'

Decided to visit based on the bank free weekend event. Look it up. Worth it! Honestly worth the admission too. Opted for a self guided tour, which consists of walking through the house on your own. I had a toddler with me. No way was I doing a guided tour. The little one would never last. Didn't learn as much I'd like to, but my little one enjoyed the scavenger hunt, visiting all of the rooms, and of course climbing the stairs. I was surprised how interested my little one was. The grounds are beautiful. We hiked a few trails and checked out the sculptures. Turned out to be a great place to spend the morning.

The grounds are exquisite and full of beautiful engaging art, culture and gardens. The home is absolutely a masterpiece and must see location in The Berkshires! The staff is warm and inviting with greetings and wonderful stories about the home and original owners. It's well worth a trip and spending the time to take all the tours offered.

I heard an excellent talk at Canyon Ranch on the house and Edith Wharton and felt compelled to bike out to see the house and magnificent gardens. It was better than expected! The gardens are truly fabulous. The house tour given by Nathan was super interesting. I would highly recommend this tour.

What a magical place. Nothing better than jazz in the spectacular gardens of this mansion. The Mount was the house for the writer Edith Wharton and many other personalities were guest at this house. Great atmosphere.

I've been to The Mount twice now. The first time, I did a self-guided tour and the second time, I ponied up the $2 for the guided tour. Hands down, you must do the guided tour at least once. Our tour guide, Wendy, was simply excellent. You can get a lot out of a visit if you do the self-guided tour, but the guided tour just really adds an extra layer of information about the house itself, Edith Wharton's life, the beautiful grounds--everything. Our guide pointed out details that I never would have noticed, and she knew the answers to every question that was asked. I honestly don't even like Edith Wharton's writing, but I still like her house very much, and she lived a very cool and interesting life. It's heartening to know that even though she had the means to never work a day in her life and just be socialite, she sought out education, traveled, volunteered for the war effort, wrote the authoritative work on interior design and took care of herself at a time when women didn't really have that choice--or it was unfashionable. She's a cool broad, so even if you had to read Ethan Frome in 8th grade and the memory still pains you, you should still go see her house. The cafe on the terrace is reasonably priced, everything I've had there has been delicious, and even if you're not hungry, it's worth getting a coffee to sit there and look down over the amazing gardens. In the gardens, there are little benches dotted throughout so you can sit and bask in perfectly cultivated nature. There are fountains, tiles, walking paths, a cemetery for dogs, manicured hedges and even on the hottest days you can find shade.

The Mount is a really special place! We opted for the guided tour which was very informative but also a little repetitive. Our guide was very nice and very welcoming. The highlights were the library and Edith Wharton's bedroom suite area. The grounds are very special and they provide a lovely back drop for the impressive house. I really can't wait to go back and have a picnic on the grounds. I deduct a star for a few things: they chose leopard print carpet for the stair case, and the fact that a lot of the rooms are devoid of historical objects and furnishings ( I understand that the pieces they do have are not original to the house for the most part and that's ok considering Edith took her things with her when she moved out) and only have placard with information and not many pictures. Other than those complaints, the Mount was very enjoyable!

The Mount is a hidden gem of the Berkshires. When open, the house is a great tour. Even when. It open the grounds and gardens are well worth the visit. You can walk the grounds for a couple of hours without retracing your steps. This walk will take you through dense woods and well manicured gardens.

Recommended by a friend and then persuaded by Fodor's Travel's declaration that The Mount is one of the "10 Best Home Estate Tours in the U.S.", my gal pals and I decided to visit author Edith Wharton's summer home. We started with a relaxing lunch (pre-boxed cold meals from Guido's Market are available for purchase) on the awning-covered terrace, which overlooks the gardens. Unfortunately, it was too early for me to partake but they also offer a nice selection of fine wines and craft beers. Instead, I deliberated between the home-made lemonade and fresh iced tea. Next we experienced the optional (usually on the hour) house tour. It was excellent! In part because our guide, Ann Shea, was captivating as she spoke about Edith's architectural preferences, friends and period social behaviors. An hour later we took an equally enjoyable garden tour with Marge. Highly recommended for adults. Don't forget your camera.

I haven't taken their formal tour but was able to do a walk-through early in their summer season. The home is above and beyond anything I'd ever experienced. I know nothing about Wharton's work, but her lifestyle was clearly evident in the home. I had the good fortune of attending a couple guest lectures in their carriage house, which I highly recommend (the price was a bit high, but I'm sure the revenue helps them). Even just walking the grounds before or after the tour (on a nice day) makes The Mount worth visiting.

This is one of those places that you have to go to even though it might not quite live up to expectations. I think they need substantially more funds to continue preserving Edith Wharton's home. One big problem is that Edith Wharton took all of her furniture with her to France when she absconded to Europe. Someone on staff had a great idea when they called for modern designers to put their own spin on various rooms in the mansion. It's a bit disappointing that there aren't more of her furnishings, but not the fault of the staff. My husband and I did joke that the tour guides need to eliminate the word "symmetry" from their vocabulary. They use it altogether too much to describe Wharton's choices. It stops being descriptive after a while. Perhaps copying parts of her design manual would be helpful? We overheard the garden tour guide also using "symmetry" repeatedly after our repetitive house tour. I was also intrigued by the idea of the Terrace Cafe, but was disappointed with its limited dining options and not terribly comfortable seating. Again, I suppose this is a funding issue. I bet a wedding would be very beautiful here. I hope they work a bit more on the tour material. I am a bit shocked that there isn't more financial support for Edith Wharton as she is one of our national treasures! (Side note: I guess Laura Bush is a supporter because we were told she was touring while we were there and we saw a picture of her attending an event while she was First Lady. Perhaps the Bushes could contribute monetarily as well??)

Loved it. I've been waiting for 20 years to visit and it did not disappoint. The house was beautiful, tour was interesting and the grounds were gorgeous too.

This was our first visit and we absolutely loved it. Even better, we did the ghost tour, which made it even more interesting. It was the best ghost tour I've ever attended and I'm a paranormal investigator. The guides were fun, knowledgable, perfect for their roles, and friendly. Shout-outs to Elric, Marge, and Julie. Thank you!!

A real pleasure to visit. Even though my family would visit Tanglewood once a summer for a good 10-15 years in a row, I'd never known about this place until really recently. Restoration only began in the late 90s I believe, and they've done a fantastic job - so far. They're still raising funds to renovate the upper floors of the mansion. For the time being, they are being used to display exhibits on various Edith Wharton things, which if you haven't read any of her novels (which I haven't) aren't really interesting. There is a very nice gift shop which includes rare editions of Wharton's books, a nice cafe on the terrace, with a wonderful view of the gardens/grounds, which they have done a great restoring. Friendly staff too. Oh also, tickets were maybe a touch pricey but...I suppose that whole area is rich person playground so no real surprises I guess...

When we decided to visit Lenox, MA, I didn't know much about the area, so I did some research. The Mount came up imediately as a place to visit. Having enjoyed some of Wharton's short stories, I put this on the top of my "to visit" list. I also read (both on their website and in the LA Times) that The Mount was on borrowed time -- they had been given the summer season to make enough money to pay their creditors so that they could remain open. Upon visiting, I understood better why money was such an issue. Upkeep alone must cost a fortune, and they are undergoing a first-class restoration. (In the years since Wharton sold The Mount, it has been, among other things, dorms for a private girls' school.)The first two floors and the gardens have been beautifully restored, and they're currently at work on the third floor. The gardens and views are spectacular, and you can enjoy lunch or a glass of iced tea on the terrace, where you can enjoy the views. We found all of the staff (which was surprisingly young) to be very helpful and knowledgable. As Dan C. said, entry fees are a bit stiff ($16 when we were there), but given the financial challenge they are facing, I didn't mind paying. Hopefully, this home will be open for years to come! Even if you aren't a fan of Wharton, it's worth seeing The Mount to get a view of how the "liesure class" lived in the early 1900s.

I will be the first to admit that I don't know much about Edith Wharton's writings but I do know a beautiful mansion when I see one and this is one. We attended a wedding and reception at the Mount and what a lovely venue. The wedding was in the held in the gardens and while the weather was unseasonably cool and rainy, the gardens maintained their beauty for a lovely setting. The reception was indoors on the first floor, primarily in the Ballroom, very nice. The dinner was on the back porch overlooking the gardens with the glorious views. Really a spectacular setting for all to enjoy. Great venue for the occasion. I would have loved a guided tour but this was not meant to be this trip, perhaps next time. There would be much to learn about this grand dame.

I just got married at The Mount in October and I can't say enough about not only the venue, but the Mount's amazing staff, especially Ross Jolly, Director of Facilities and Special Events. First off, I was a very, very picky bride. It was important to me to have not only a venue with a mega wow factor but one that would work if it rained and one that would be private only to my wedding. I had a big fear of having to go through a hotel lobby in a wedding dress and getting instagrammed by someone's Aunt Mildred. Let's just say that will never happen at The Mount. Not only do you have full use of the historic house and stunning grounds, but they are so flexible with what you do with the space. Want the gorgeous settee in the living room to stay? They'll keep it. Or want to strip it all and do lots of lighting? They let you do that too. But that would be a shame because the decor is wonderful. I saved so much money on lighting and flowers just because the Mount is a beautifully decorated space on its own. Another huge plus for me was the enormous, rain proof terrace. There is a very pretty awning that runs all the way across and I was able to have one long table outside for 75 which looked epic. There is a lot of flexibility with where to dine and dance and even if you want to tent, but I think one of the biggest draws with The Mount is how much money you save by using what they have and not tenting or bringing in a dance floor. Now on to Ross Jolly. He is such an asset to The Mount. With him there, you do not need a wedding planner. He helped us create such a gorgeous day and was so accessible, professional and flexible. When we got to Lenox, we ran into him in a restaurant and he recognized us from a photo we had sent. He offered to give us a tour of the Mount then and there instead of the next morning even though it was his birthday and he was in the middle of his birthday dinner. That is the kind of person you want helping with your wedding.

After watching a slideshow on this beautiful property and gardens I realize just how much work has gone into the restoration. And while the house and grounds are stunning, I would have liked to have seen a more faithful attempt at recreation of the interior, even despite the absence of the original belongings. Leopard print carpet? Really? But what I felt to be most lacking was a focus on Edith Wharton's writing, especially since some of her most successful work was written while she lived at The Mount.

I visited The Mount this past weekend and had a lovely time. Our tour guide was energetic and knowledgeable. The grounds were sprawling and gorgeous - with lots of places to sit out of the sunshine to take in the views, and the terrace cafe was relatively affordable, had good food, and provided a nice view of Wharton's beautifully manicured grounds. I think what really made the trip, though was the guide, who provided wonderful insight into Wharton's ideas for designing the home. I frequent lots of literary home tours - and the guide can really make or break your experience, Our docent really made my experience!

I've wanted to see Edith Wharton's house for quite awhile and finally got a chance a couple of weeks ago. I've seen it featured twice on Ghost Hunters and I'm a fan of her writing. We didn't plan to go and unfortunately, it was closing in about 30 minutes when we arrived so they nicely didn't charge us any admission. We ended up staying a bit long (as did many people so they're nice about letting you look around even when nearing and passing closing time). It was amazing to see how Edith lived! Lovely decor and so many rooms. Oh, and the grounds are gorgeous. Looking out at the woods was just enchanting. They had items that Edith used (mirrors, furniture, etc) and it was just very cool to see how she chose to decorate the place and where she would sit and write. It's big so if you have an hour or two that would be a perfect amount of time to wander around. I wish we had longer but am grateful we got in free of charge. The gift store is packed with great items. I picked up a short story book about ghosts which Edith wrote (and was fascinated with ghosts apparently which I hadn't known before visiting). I'm told they do night time ghost tours which sound pretty fun (that's a maybe on my bucket list of things to do!). Highly recommend stopping in if you're in the area.