Weekend Stay At The Red Lion Inn

A stay at the Red Lion Inn is a step back in time. The Red Lion has hosted guests since 1773, and even though it has gone through multiple renovations it retains all of its old charm and history. The inn, as well as the neighboring buildings in downtown Stockbridge, MA, remain virtually unchanged since Norman Rockwell preserved them in his famous Main Street painting. If you’re looking for a picture-perfect small town in New England then you’ve found it. The Red Lion Inn is the perfect place for an idyllic, New England experience that also provides access to the endless outdoor activities, arts and locally inspired cuisine of the Berkshires. I also have to wonder whether the long history of the inn has lingered in the form of ghosts. A few things happened during my stay that make me wonder…

About Red Lion Inn

Food & Drink

Red Lion Inn has a few dining options, depending on what you might be in the mood for.

• Main dining room- Remember the classic Normal Rockwell painting, Freedom From Want? You might remember it as the Thanksgiving painting or I’ll Be Home for Christmas. It depicts the Rockwell family and friends seated around the dining room table eagerly awaiting their turkey dinner. The background was inspired by the Red Lion Inn’s main dining room. Today you’ll enjoy classic New England comfort food, like their traditional turkey dinner, and old favorites with a modern twist, such as the delicious lemon rosemary braised chicken with polenta.
• Widow Bingham’s Tavern- This small tavern is my favorite. And it’s the only dining area where you can choose from all three dinner menus (dining room, tavern, Lion’s Den). With its low ceiling and wide plank wooden floors it’s what you would expect an 1800s tavern to look like. But it’s the unique decor that makes it truly great. Check out the collection of old tin lunchboxes hanging from the ceiling, the beautiful stained glass windows and the NHL hockey puck collection. There are a handful of seats at the bar and a few tables. Those in the know get there early to battle for the one booth. It’s tucked away off to the side of the bar and feels like your own private dining experience.
• The Lion’s Den- Hunker down in the Lion’s Den, located in the inn’s cellar, to enjoy pub fare and a cold local brew. This is a great spot to kick back and enjoy live music, which they offer most nights. Access the Lion’s Den through the entrance in Widow Bingham’s Tavern or from the exterior entrance on Main Street.
• The Courtyard- This is tucked away behind the inn and open seasonally. Nothing better than fresh air, fresh food and a cold drink after you’ve been exploring the Berkshires.

Lobby & Front Porch

It’s not often I take much time to admire the lobby of a hotel. It’s typically a space you pass through on your way to your room or the restaurant. The Red Lion Inn’s lobby is different. It’s welcoming and meant to be a space for lingering. Slow down, there’s plenty of time to get where you need to go. Stop in the lobby to plan or recap your day with your fellow travelers or close out the night by settling down with a good book. Norman, the resident cat, will be happy to share space on the couch with you.

As you step into the lobby you’ll find dark wood antique furnishings, many of which were those salvaged from the 1896 fire that gutted most of the building. The lobby, as well as the other areas of the inn, are decorated with unique antiques. Check out the teapot collection along the ceiling and the grandfather clock sitting next to the super cool Bird Cage Elevator that dates to 1897. I try to avoid elevators but couldn’t help asking for a ride to the third floor. You can use the elevator any time but a staff member will need to operate it for you.

During my stay I started writing this post and decided to bring my laptop into the lobby (there is free wi-fi but definitely not the strongest signal) and sat at the Lincoln Table. I’m pretty sure it’s the first time I’ve sat at a table that had a name. The table came from the Union League Club in New York and, as you may have guessed, would have been used by many of the country’s best known men, including Abraham Lincoln. With classical music playing in the background and sunlight streaming through the front windows, it was the perfect spot to get the creative juices flowing.

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The lobby and common areas are cozy and inviting but can get busy during peak season. To enjoy them without the crowds, start your day early by sipping coffee in front of the fireplace. In warmer weather step onto the wide front porch and relax in one of the rocking chairs to watch Main Street wake up. But don’t spend too much time on the porch or you’ll miss all the fun activities the Berkshires offers.

Things To Do In The Berkshires

The Red Lion Inn is the perfect home base for exploring the Berkshire Hills and mountains in western Massachusetts. Seven towns are nestled in Berkshire County and all offer something unique. You’ll find a wide range of year-round outdoor activities, vibrant art museums and lots of tasty, locally prepared foods.

Activities

• Hiking– While you won’t find tall mountain peaks in the Berkshires, there is a wide range of hikes for all abilities. During my stay I wanted a short hike and found just what I needed at Race Brook Falls in Sheffield. (Read more about my love for waterfalls here.)The trail is rocky and there are a few water crossings so be sure to wear waterproof hiking boots. Follow the trail signs towards the upper falls and campsite and about 1.5 miles into the hike you’ll be greeted by the Upper Falls. I turned around after being mesmerized by the falls, but you can continue up the trail to the top of Mt. Race for a 7 mile round-trip out and back hike. Another popular hike is to the summit of Mt. Greylock, Massachusetts’ highest peak. There are multiple trails to the summit so make sure you’re choosing one that suits your ability.
• Trail Running & Walking– You’ll find tons of trails around the Stockbridge area for when you want a short escape into the woods. Whether it’s for walking or running, there’s a trail for you. Kennedy Park in nearby Lenox is easily accessible and has a well-marked network of trails perfect for walking and running. I stopped here one afternoon to do some exploring and, even though it’s close to town, you’ll be surprised at how easily you slip away from the nearby traffic. There are several entrances to the park. The closest to downtown Lenox is at the Department of Public Works. The more popular entrances are at Arcadian Shop and Lenox Commons. You’ll find parking at both. Pick up some new gear at Arcadian Shop, a sandwich from their cafe and head out on the trails. Sounds like a perfect afternoon.
• Road Cycling– While I didn’t bring my bike on this trip, I definitely want to go back to the Berkshires and experience the area on two wheels. The rolling hills and back roads are begging to be explored by bike. I did a little research and found Housatonic Heritage and Bike New England to be informative resources with lots of route ideas, maps and GPS routes for self-guided tours. If you need to rent a bike, take a short drive down the road from Red Lion Inn to Berkshire Bike and Board.
• Mountain Biking– You’ll find plenty of mountain biking trails in the Berkshires. One of the more popular places is Berkshire East Mountain Bike Park, which offers courses for all levels of riders. If you prefer the actual mountain, take your bike to Mount Greylock.
• Kayaking– I find kayaking to be both relaxing and invigorating. Being on the water and surrounded by nature works wonders for the soul. Bring your kayak to the Stockbridge Bowl or rent one from Arcadian Shop (delivery available).
• Skiing and Snowshoeing– The closest mountain to Red Lion Inn is Butternut in Great Barrington. It’s a fun mid-sized mountain. If you’re looking for something a little more challenging head up to Jiminy Peak. One of the best places for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing is Notchview. This 3,000+ acre property is designed for cross-country skiing and offers groomed and ungroomed trails and allows snowshoeing along the sides of the trails.

More Food & Drink

Let’s face it, after all those activities you’ll be hungry. Aside from the Red Lion Inn, you have lots of options. Here are a few of my recommendations for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

• Marketplace Kitchen Table– Just a short drive from the inn, this counter service restaurant makes freshly prepared and inventive salads and sandwiches for any time of day. I fueled up here with a hearty breakfast sandwich before I hiked Race Brook Falls. Delicious!
• No 6 Depot– This West Stockbridge cafe is one of my favorites. The coffee is freshly roasted and they offer up healthy breakfast and lunch choices packed with veggies and whole grains.
• Prairie Whale– I asked one of the bartenders and a server at Red Lion Inn which restaurant (other than their own) they would recommend for dinner and, hands down, they recommended Prairie Whale. So of course I had to try it and it didn’t disappoint. It’s set in a cozy, old house in downtown Great Barrington. With its dim lighting and creaky floors it’s a quintessential New England restaurant. Prairie Whale uses local food whenever possible. They raise sheep and hens, butchers locally purchased animals and makes their own pasta, sausage and bacon.
• Lost Lamb Patisserie– Across the street from Red Lion Inn sits this cozy, welcoming bakery to enjoy a fresh cup of coffee and a homemade sweet treat.

Arts & Culture

• Kripalu Center– The famed (and deservingly so) yoga and wellness retreat center is also located in Stockbridge and offers multi-day, as well as one day R&R retreats. I highly recommend it! For additional detail, read my post about Kripalu.
• Norman Rockwell Museum– There’s no comparison when it comes to viewing the original painting vs. viewing the prints or the famous Saturday Evening Post magazine covers. The brilliant colors bring the paintings to life and you’ll see details in the original paintings that you’ve never seen before.
• Guthrie Center– I would have to give up my claim as a New Englander if I didn’t recommend this. It was founded by Arlo Guthrie, a well-known folk singer famous for his song, Alice’s Restaurant. The museum is located in a former church that served as the setting for the song’s “Thanksgiving dinner that couldn’t be beat”. Today the Center provides interfaith services, hosts musicians on the weekends and offers free summer yoga classes.
• Tanglewood– Located in nearby Lenox, this is the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. They also host many other world-class musicians so if you appreciate and enjoy music of any kind you should plan on getting tickets to a concert during your stay at Red Lion Inn.
• MASS MoCa– This renowned contemporary art museum features both well-known and emerging artists and is one of the most popular attractions in the area. In addition to the art exhibits they offer performing arts shows year-round.

Is Red Lion Inn Haunted?

There have been several reports of ghosts at the Red Lion Inn. Room 301 seems to be the hotspot. A couple guests have reported feeling a presence in that room. I didn’t stay in room 301 and never felt a so-called presence but I definitely experienced a strange, unexplained occurrence throughout my stay. My phone kept reverting back to the year 2000 and would go haywire because it was confused. My apps were alerting me left and right that the date on my phone was incorrect and some apps couldn’t operate. It was like Y2K come to life.

It all started the day of my arrival, March 5, 2020. That night I took a picture of Norman the cat to send to my nieces. When I tried attaching the picture to Facebook Messenger I couldn’t find the picture. That’s when I noticed my phone didn’t seem to be working right. I thought it might have been the poor wi-fi connection but then I noticed the date on my phone was July 20, 2000. Figuring my phone was “having a moment” I set it aside for the night and decided to try another cat picture the next day. The next morning the phone was back to normal. Or so I thought.

Once again, I noticed my phone had gone back in time. This time to July 21, 2000. Plus, there were more pictures I couldn’t find. Eventually, I figured out what was happening with them. The pictures I had taken in the year 2000 were on my phone but since the Google Photos app organizes photos by date, the pictures were at the bottom of the photo feed, not the top, as expected. My last day at Red Lion Inn was March 7, and true to form, my phone spent most of the morning in July 22, 2000 and went “back to the future” shortly after I checked out. I have no idea what the significance of July 2000 is. I asked at the front desk if something significant occurred at the Red Lion during that time but the employee wasn’t aware of anything.

Despite the unexplained date changes occurring in my mobile phone, a haunted phone was not my first thought. I believe in ghosts but it’s with a healthy dose of skepticism. Electronic devices sometimes don’t work as they should, but the more the date change occurred the more I became a believer. Once is freak incident or electrical blip. Twice is a coincidence. Multiple times over the course of three days is an unexplained phenomenon.

I may have dismissed the whole thing if I didn’t have photographic evidence. The pictures I took in the past are all date stamped with 2000. I took quite a few pictures that weekend but the only ones date stamped 2000 are ones I took at the inn (although not all photos I took of the inn had the wrong year). To cement the deal, this date change never occurred before I visited Red Lion Inn and hasn’t occurred since.

I hope I haven’t scared you away from visiting Red Lion Inn. Ghosts or not, I love old, history-rich hotels, and I will most definitely be back to visit. Hope to see you there!