1789 Shaker Farmhouse in Berkshires

Welcome to Shaker Meadows, a historic 18th century Berkshires farm set on 50 acres. The farmhouse has 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, dining room, living room (queen sofa bed), full kitchen, & looks out onto the farm's fields and the Berkshire mountains. Fewer than 10 mins to Hancock Shaker Village, 15 mins to Tanglewood’s concerts or Jiminy Peak—a wonderful base for exploring the art, music, beauty, and history of the Berkshires. Great for couples, families, & solo adventurers. Kid- and pet-friendly. The space NOTE: We currently have a renovation project underway. A construction crew may be onsite during weekdays working on exterior hardscaping and landscaping. The crew typically works during the day M-F and does not work on weekends, but their presence may cause noise, and their equipment and materials may be present on site. Shaker Meadows farmhouse and creamery are nestled in 50 acres of land that includes forested mountains, farmland, and a willow-lined pond that feeds into the Shaker Meadows wetlands. This rustic 1700s farmhouse has six bedrooms, three full bathrooms, dining room, living room & a kitchen. Note that four of the bedrooms in the farmhouse are located on the second floor up a short flight of stairs. The farmhouse is cooled by in-window air conditioners in the summer. Guests at Shaker Meadows are welcome to use the 1/2+ mile of walking paths around the fields, the spacious lawns on the north and south sides of the buildings, and the shared grill and fire pit. Note: The indoor fireplace is decorative only. Guests are welcome to responsibly use the fire pit outside. We live a few hours away and spend many of our weeks and weekends at Shaker Meadows. If we’re not there at the same time, we’re easily accessible by phone & email and are happy to answer any questions about the neighborhood and share our family’s recommendations for favorite activities, lakes, restaurants, ice cream, etc. Shaker Meadows is fewer than 10 minutes from Hancock Shaker Village and 15 minutes from Tanglewood and Jiminy Peak. It’s a short drive to the Berkshires’ main attractions, including museums & art (Mass MoCA, Norman Rockwell Museum, the Clark Art Institute, the Berkshire Museum, Shaker Museum), performances (Tanglewood, Jacob’s Pillow, Barrington Stage Company), hiking and exploring (Mt. Greylock, Appalachian Trail, Monument Mountain, Balance Rock, Bash Bish Falls), farms (Ioka Valley Farm, Bartlett’s Orchard), swimming and boating (Queechy Lake is a 3 minute drive, Lake Onota and Pontoosuc Lake are 10 and 20 minutes away), or historic sites (The Mount—Edit Wharton, Arrowhead— Herman Melville, Chesterwood—Daniel Chester French, Steepletop—Edna St. Vincent Millay, Ashley House—Mum Bett). Know before you book: Cell coverage: Cell coverage is uneven in rural NY and varies by provider. You may have very weak cell coverage depending on your provider. Wifi: The farmhouse has WiFi on a mesh network that is shared with the Creamery building. We have upgraded to the ISP's highest level of service. We have consistently been able to have multiple adults on video conferences for hours at a time. However, some guests have reported inconsistent access to Wifi, possibly influenced by so many people in the area working from home and using video. Noise: State Rt 22 runs right past the farm (see aerial map). The noise from the road is audible from the farmhouse, and large passing trucks can create some rumbling/ vibrations in the house. Other guests: 100 ft from the farmhouse is the southern creamery building, a building that used to serve local dairy farmers and now has 4 units for guests to stay in (see aerial view). Condition: The farmhouse is an 18th century farmhouse in good condition, but with lots of quirks (uneven floorboards, rustic doors, low doorways, etc.) Accessibility: There are 2 shallow steps to enter the main floor of the farmhouse. The main floor has two bedrooms (one with a full bed, the other with twin bunk beds) and a bathroom. The doorframes and spaces around the beds may be narrow for someone with a walker or limited mobility. The other bedrooms and bathrooms are on the second floor, accessed by a flight of stairs. Pets: We allow guests to bring well-behaved pets with them. Guests with allergies may want to be aware that buildings may have previously had pets in them. Pet are required to stay off of furniture and bedding, must be cleaned up after, cannot be left alone in the house, and must be leashed near other guests. Animals & bugs: Keep in mind that Shaker Meadows is a farm with lots of animals and insects around. You may be able to see deer, fireflies, rabbits, barn swallows, and redwinged blackbirds...and may also encounter ladybugs (who love to come inside where it's warm), mosquitos, and ticks. We recommend wearing bug spray when exploring the outdoor spaces! We clean the farmhouse consistently, but bugs and critters often find their way inside, so please help us by keeping doors closed.