Two centuries ago, this Berkshire farmhouse was built the way houses here were built to last a winter — thick-walled, close to water, within reach of its own land.
The barn out back was raised the same era, horses stabled on the ground floor, staff quarters above.
Both are still standing.
What's changed is everything that makes staying here effortless: central air, a gourmet kitchen, fast WiFi, and full modern comfort - all behind 19th-century walls.
Most homes on Lake Garfield give you the water. A few give you the land. This one gives you both, in a way few others can match.
An H-shaped private dock stretches out into open sun on the lake, with a separate floating dock to swim to. Tied up alongside: kayaks, paddleboards, a four-person steel canoe, and a double kayak for two. A dockside shack keeps everything guests need close at hand — chairs, life preservers in every size, floaties, paddles, sunscreen, binoculars — so a day on the water starts the moment you walk down.
Back on land, the old barn is open to guests, not just admired from the porch. Inside: bikes, lake floats, children's toys, athletic equipment, butterfly nets, gardening tools — everything for five private acres of trails, meadow, and three original stone walls that have marked this land since it was a working farm. Kick a soccer ball or set up whiffle ball on the open meadow in warmer months.
Once snow settles in, the same trails transform for private cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, no drive required.
Inside the house, a massive New England stone fireplace it a place that will unite a family.
A wraparound porch and a separate screened porch provides a place for relaxation and a dreamy nap.
Four bedrooms and 2.5 baths sleep up to 10 — a king, two twin-bunk setups, a queen, and a double futon.
A fenced dog run means four-legged guests get their own space to run loose.
After dark, strategically placed light illuminate the property, allowing the beautiful views to continue.
The large stone fire pit — the kind of place marshmallows get roasted whether anyone planned on it or not - provide a great outdoor evening gatherings spot.
Beyond the firelight, the sky takes over, with dark-sky local bylaws in place to specifically protect unobstructed views of the Milky Way, with backing from MIT's own observatory manager.
Away from any city glow, expect thousands of visible stars, the Milky Way overhead on a clear night, and constellations most guests haven't picked out since childhood.
The house sits in the heart of the southern Berkshires rather than off on its own — a 5 minute drive to Butternut, a similar drive to Great Barrington's restaurants and shops, and a short hop to Stockbridge and Tanglewood.
This is the same stretch of hills that drew Melville and Hawthorne to write in the shadow of Mount Greylock, where the Boston Symphony Orchestra has spent its summers at Tanglewood since 1936 (only a 25 minute drive away). Norman Rockwell painted Main Street a short drive away in Stockbridge (you can still stand where he stood).
Fall turns nearby Beartown State Forest into some of the best foliage driving and hiking in New England.
Winter brings Butternut and other local slopes and a run of small-town tree lightings and holiday markets through Great Barrington, Lenox, and Stockbridge.
The house stays comfortable year-round with heating and central air conditioning. Whether you’re unwinding in the cozy living area, deck or screened-in porch or enjoying a meal with family around at the 10-person dining table or outdoor picnic table, every detail is designed for a pleasant stay. Experience the magic of Monterey at our relaxing lake house.
A private dock and five private acres — most homes on Lake Garfield have one or the other. This 19th-century Berkshire farmhouse, fully modernized, comes with both: a fully stocked private dock, a working historic barn open to guests, and five acres with its own stone walls, fire pit, and dark night sky.
THE SETTING
Five private acres of trails, meadow, and three original stone walls dating to the property's working-farm days. Landscape lighting after dark, a large fire pit for evening gatherings, and a fenced dog run for pets.
THE BARN
Built in the 19th century to house horses on the ground floor and staff quarters above, the barn still stands and is open to guests — stocked with bikes, lake floats, children's toys, athletic equipment, butterfly nets, and gardening tools.
THE HOUSE
Central air conditioning, a gourmet kitchen, WiFi, and full modern comfort behind 19th-century walls. A massive stone fireplace anchors the main living space. Wraparound porch and a separate screened porch both overlook the water.
4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, sleeps up to 10:
— Bedroom 1: king bed
— Bedroom 2: two twin bunk setups
— Bedroom 3: queen bed
— Bedroom 4: Twin bed
ON THE WATER
An H-shaped private dock reaching into open sun on Lake Garfield, plus a separate floating swim dock. Tied up alongside: kayaks, paddleboards, a four-person steel canoe, and a double kayak. A dockside shack is stocked with chairs, life preservers in every size, floaties, paddles, sunscreen, and binoculars.
BY SEASON
Warmer months: swim, paddle, walk the trails, or set up soccer or whiffle ball on the open meadow. Winter: the same trails become a private cross-country ski and snowshoe network, and Ski Butternut is 14 minutes away for downhill.
THE SKY AT NIGHT
Neighboring New Marlborough has spent years drafting a dark-sky bylaw to protect the region's view of the Milky Way, with backing from MIT's own observatory manager. Away from the fire pit's glow, expect a genuinely dark, star-filled sky rare this close to the Northeast corridor.
THE BERKSHIRES
The house sits close to the heart of the southern Berkshires — 5 minute drive to Ski Butternut, a similar drive to Great Barrington's restaurants and shops, a short hop to Stockbridge and Tanglewood. Tanglewood, the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1936, is 42 minutes away. Stockbridge — Norman Rockwell's home and the setting for his best-known paintings — is a short drive. Fall brings foliage season to Beartown State Forest; winter brings a season of small-town holiday events across Great Barrington, Lenox, and Stockbridge.
Dog-friendly (fenced dog run on site). No smoking. No parties or events.
Central Air Conditioning, Gourmet Kitchen, Wifi, a game room basement that includes Pool, Air Hockey and Fooseball.
