That View! The Wigwam Western Summit Is Your First Stop Along The Mohawk Trail
Motor past the Hairpin Turn and head up to the new/old destination for "Cabins, Cars and Coffee."
Photos courtesy Wigwam Western Summit
When the Wigwam Western Summit originally opened in 1914, it was the vision of four sisters who wanted to be part of the magic of the Mohawk Trail. Now known otherwise as Route 2, which runs east-west along the northern Massachusetts corridor, the Mohawk Trail — one of the first auto-touring roads in the country — had opened the same year. More than a century later, the Wigwam (entry point: North Adams, Mass.) is again under female ownership, and it is again a family business looking to share some of that Berkshire magic with others.
Lea King purchased The Wigwam last August. Bringing her vision to life was going to take a lot of elbow grease, time and patience; much of the property had gone into disrepair. By October, she and her partner Wayne Gelinas had the store and cafe up and running. "Stage one was simply just to open our doors," said King. "Folks have waited too long for this to reopen."
While Gelinas is a North Adams local, King is a transplant to the Berkshires. A former executive from Silicon Valley, she worked in leadership positions for General Electric, AT&T and Cisco. King fell in love with the property when she saw it and, as she's learned about the history, has made it her mission to honor the Wigwam's place in Berkshire history.
The four Mansfield sisters purchased the land in 1913 just before the scenic drive’s official opening. King refers to them as "truly visionary women." They first developed it by building a small gift shop, a tower, and at least 12 cabins.
By the time King took ownership, only six were left standing. After working with a local contractor, King learned that two of the six could not be saved. Today, the Wigwam Western Summit consists of a coffee and gift shop, the Wigwam house, the four cabins, and a rentable extended-stay apartment below the store. The tagline “Cabins, Cars and Coffee” comes from the three main points of interaction guests have with the property. The Wigwam house, next door to the shop, is the owner’s private residence. The first of the four cabins is currently available to rent, with the rest coming online later next month.
The rustic cabins are furnished with simple decor, allowing for guests to unplug and unwind. Each cabin offers a queen or king bed, a desk and a mini fridge. For those looking to cook outdoors, each cabin includes a private area with a picnic table and park-style BBQ grill. Rates start at $125-$145 a night.
A short walk from the cabins reveals a Wigwam private trail system, which connects to the Hoosac Range Hiking Trail, where you can take a 1.5-mile round trip hike to catch spectacular views from Sunset Rock. Guided walks are offered based on availability.
The gift shop and cafe is the heartbeat of the Wigwam, offering casual kitchen fare (hot dogs and sandwiches), baked goods made locally in North Adams, and coffee by No. Six Depot Roastery in West Stockbridge, Mass. The Sky Bar offers wines from smaller family vineyards and beer from Bright Ideas Brewing and Berkshire Brewing Company. One of the most impactful changes made to the space was opening up the back and side wall of the store and installing floor-to-ceiling windows. Visitors can take in views of the mountains of Massachusetts, Vermont and New York.
Recently, the North Adams Historical Society gave the owners a guestbook from around the time the Mansfield sisters sold the property. King laminated the last page — dated August 14, 1946 — to share with visitors and Gelinas built a pedestal for it right next to the register for guests to add their signatures.
Stunned by the beauty surrounding her, King appears to have found her forever place.
"I've traveled a lot of the world. I don't wish to travel anymore," she said. "This place allows me to bring people into my life, into our little store."
