A famous novelist designed this white mansion herself, then wrote ghost stories inside it. That alone should make you lean a little closer.
She was a Pulitzer Prize winner. She also published a whole book of spooky tales and admitted she found ghosts unsettling.
Her old house now offers ghost tours, which feels like a delightful bit of payback.
The estate sits in the hills of western Massachusetts. It has formal gardens, a grand terrace, and a library of books she actually owned.
I like how the place balances elegance with a faint chill down the spine.
I believe old houses keep their best secrets for people who slow down. This one rewards curiosity in every room and garden path.
So which side wins you over first, the literary history or the ghostly whispers?
A Pulitzer Winner Designed Every Inch Of It
Most authors write about dream homes, but Edith Wharton built one. The Mount, her estate at 2 Plunkett Street in Lenox, Massachusetts, began rising in 1901 and was finished in 1902.
Wharton didn’t just pick paint colors. She shaped the plan using ideas from her 1897 book, The Decoration of Houses, written with designer Ogden Codman Jr.
That book argued for balance, order, and rooms that suited real living. The Mount became her chance to prove those ideas worked outside a printed page.
Her inspiration came partly from Belton House, a grand 17th-century English country house. She blended that look with touches of French and Italian style.
The result feels calm and carefully planned rather than showy. For a Gilded Age mansion, that restraint is honestly refreshing.
Wharton later called the house her first real home. She lived there from 1902 until 1911, a period that shaped her career.
The Mount is now a National Historic Landmark. That label means experts agree it matters to American history, not just to book lovers.
Knowing the author drew the vision changes how you see each doorway. You’re touring a design argument made in brick, stucco, and stone.
Spooky Stories Came From A Writer Who Feared Ghosts
Here’s a twist worth savoring. Edith Wharton wrote several ghost stories, yet she openly confessed that ghosts made her nervous.
In the preface to her collection Ghosts, published in 1937, she admitted she couldn’t sleep near a book of ghost tales. She also quoted a famous remark about not believing in ghosts while still being afraid of them.
That honest unease gives her stories their power. Tales like Afterward and The Lady’s Maid’s Bell rely on quiet dread, not cheap jump scares.
Her creepy fiction often features big houses, servants, and secrets. Reading them after seeing The Mount adds a fun extra shiver.
You start noticing long hallways and back stairs differently. Suddenly every closed door seems to be hiding a plot twist.
The estate leans into this side of her work with seasonal programming. It treats her ghost writing as serious literature, which it absolutely is.
Want a clever pre-visit assignment? Read one short Wharton ghost story the night before you go.
It takes less than an hour. Just maybe don’t read it in a dark room, if you share her nerves.
Ghost Tours Turn The Mansion Into A Mystery
Paranormal fans, this part is yours. The Mount hosts ghost tours that explore reported strange happenings around the house and grounds.
The estate gained wider spooky fame when the TV show Ghost Hunters featured it. Since then, curiosity about its eerie side has only grown.
Tours mix house history with stories people have shared over the years. You’ll hear about odd sounds, shadowy figures, and rooms that feel a little off.
The fun comes from that balance. Skeptics get solid history, while believers get plenty to wonder about.
Schedules change by season, so check ahead before planning a trip. Autumn naturally brings the most ghostly energy to the calendar.
Wear comfortable shoes, since tours often involve walking. A light jacket helps too, because Berkshire evenings cool off quickly.
The regular evening ghost tours aren’t recommended for children under 12. Families with younger kids can look for the special ghost tours designed for ages 6 to 12.
Even if you never spot a thing, the setting does plenty of work. A grand old mansion after dark tells its own story without saying a word.
Thousands Of Her Own Books Came Home
Book lovers, brace yourselves. Edith Wharton’s personal library, around 2,600 volumes, now sits back inside The Mount.
The collection spent decades in England after her death. In 2005, the estate brought it home, a huge moment for Wharton fans everywhere.
These aren’t random antique books chosen to fill shelves. Many carry her notes, bookplates, and signs of real use.
Her reading ranged widely, from philosophy and history to gardening and travel. You get a glimpse of the mind behind The Age of Innocence.
The library room itself shows her design ideas in action. It feels orderly, warm, and built for actual reading rather than just looking impressive.
Seeing a writer’s own bookshelves feels surprisingly personal. It’s like peeking into someone’s brain, but politely.
Fun fact: Wharton was the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, in 1921. She earned it for The Age of Innocence.
Standing near her books makes that achievement feel close. Take your time in this room, because rushing through it would be a real shame.
The Gardens Deserve Their Own Afternoon
Edith Wharton loved gardens almost as much as books. She even wrote Italian Villas and Their Gardens, published in 1904.
At The Mount, she put those lessons to work across the grounds. The formal gardens connect to the house like outdoor rooms.
The Italian Walled Garden feels private and shaded, with stone walls and a calm mood. Across the lawn, the French Flower Garden bursts with color in season.
A Lime Walk of linden trees links the two spaces. Strolling it feels like a quiet scene from one of her novels.
Her niece, Beatrix Farrand, a famed landscape designer, also contributed to the estate. Farrand designed the kitchen garden and the approach drive.
Restoration work has returned much of the landscape to its earlier glory. The results show how much care went into bringing it back.
Visit in late spring or summer for the most blooms. Bring water and sun protection, because you’ll probably wander longer than planned.
Photographers will want extra time here. Good luck taking just one picture of that view from the terrace.
Where The House Of Mirth Took Shape
Many famous books started somewhere ordinary. The House of Mirth started in a bedroom at The Mount.
Wharton wrote much of that 1905 novel while living here. It became a bestseller and helped make her a major literary star.
Her habit was to write in bed during the morning. Pages would fall to the floor, and her secretary would gather them up for typing.
That detail makes her feel wonderfully human. Even geniuses apparently enjoyed staying cozy under the covers.
Afternoons went to other passions. She gardened, hosted guests, walked her dogs, and went on drives through the hills.
The house gave her space and focus. Those years helped her grow from a promising writer into a celebrated one.
Her friend Henry James visited The Mount too. Picture two literary giants trading sharp opinions over dinner, which surely happened more than once.
If you’re a writer, this stop may feel motivating. Maybe that’s your sign to start that story you keep putting off, preferably in bed.
A Rescue Story Saved The Whole Estate
The Mount almost didn’t make it to today. After Wharton sold the house in 1911, it passed through several owners and uses.
At one point, it served as a girls’ school. Later, a theater company used the property for performances.
Time took a toll on the buildings and grounds. By the late 20th century, serious repair work was badly needed.
In 1980, a nonprofit formed to rescue and restore the estate. That group grew into the organization that runs The Mount today.
Restoration took years and major effort. Crews worked on the house, stable, and gardens to honor Wharton’s original vision.
Money troubles hit hard in the late 2000s. Supporters rallied, and the estate kept its doors open.
Knowing this backstory makes a visit feel meaningful. Your ticket helps keep a fragile piece of Massachusetts history standing strong.
The comeback also suits the setting. A house known for ghost tales had its own brush with fading away, then came roaring back to life.
Seasonal Events Keep Things Lively
Quiet house tours are only part of the story. The Mount runs a busy calendar of programs during its open season.
Author talks bring writers and thinkers to the estate. Fittingly, a house built by a novelist still welcomes conversations about books.
Outdoor sculpture exhibitions have appeared on the grounds in past seasons. Art among the trees gives the landscape a playful new layer.
Fall brings the spookier side forward with ghost-themed programming. It’s a natural fit for a home linked to eerie fiction.
Families can find activities too, depending on the season. Checking the schedule ahead helps you plan around something fun.
The estate sits on roughly 50 acres, so there’s room to roam between events. Woodland trails offer a calmer break from the formal areas.
Events can sell out, especially popular talks. Booking early saves you from that sad feeling of missing out.
Pair an event with a garden walk for a full day. You’ll leave with fresh ideas and probably tired, happy legs.
Make A Full Berkshires Day Of It
Lenox earned a reputation as a Gilded Age retreat for wealthy families. Grand summer homes, nicknamed cottages, dotted these Massachusetts hills.
The Mount stands among the best preserved of that era. Visiting gives you a vivid sense of how the elite once spent their summers.
After your tour, the town center is a short drive away. Its streets offer shops, cafes, and classic New England charm.
Music fans know Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, sits nearby. Pairing it with The Mount makes a wonderfully cultured weekend.
Fall foliage season turns the region into a postcard. Expect busier roads then, so plan your timing with care.
Spring and summer bring the gardens to full color. Each season shows the estate in a different light.
The Mount generally operates seasonally, so confirm opening dates before heading out. Nobody wants to arrive at locked gates with a car full of excited readers.
Bring curiosity, comfy shoes, and maybe a Wharton paperback. The ghosts, real or not, will handle the rest.
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