Originally built in 1912, Gateways Inn is a cherished landmark in downtown Lenox, Massachusetts. Steeped in Gilded Age grandeur, the property continues to uphold its legacy as one of the Berkshires’ premier inns and dining destinations today.
In 2020, Gateways was acquired by Mill Town Capital, an impact investment group dedicated to enhancing quality of life and local experiences for Berkshire residents and visitors alike. Since then, the inn has undergone significant investment, elevating the guest experience through updated infrastructure, renewed spaces, modernized amenities, and more.
History
Harley Procter, of Procter & Gamble, built the Gateways Inn, originally named Orleton, in 1912. Mr. Procter had purchased the land from the Lenox Club at the cost of one dollar. Like many mansions or “cottages” of the era, the Orleton estate was built in grand style, and for the sole purpose of vacationing and entertaining. It is said that Mr. Procter wanted the mansion to be rectangular and white, as was his company’s famous product: the Ivory Soap Bar and was based on the designs of McKim, Mead and White, the renowned New York architects.
Post-Victorian in style, the design is highlighted with neoclassical elements including the white clapboard exterior, the roof top balustrade, corner pilasters and Doric cornice. The main entrance, flanked by Tiffany-style windows, opens into a beautiful hallway and a spectacular freestanding stairway and second floor balcony.
The Procter’s owned the Orleton for just a short time, selling the estate in 1919. After that time the home went through several changes being used as an office, a girl’s finishing school, a dance school, and a private members club, until it was purchased in 1937 by Ms. Lulu Wands and transformed into an inn, naming the property The Gateways.
