A new hospitality destination has opened in the scenic Berkshires region of Massachusetts, featuring 49 prefabricated cedar cabins strategically positioned around Prospect Lake. The project, called Prospect Berkshires, transforms a former campground that had fallen into disrepair into what developers describe as a "year-round landscape hotel."
Local design-build company Alander Construction led the comprehensive development, with principals Ian Rasch and Roman Montano collaborating with designer Jade-Snow Carroll, who is also Rasch's wife. The team worked alongside New York-based design studio Gans and Company to create a master plan for the 30-acre property that prioritizes both guest privacy and accessibility while emphasizing views of the natural landscape.
The site required extensive restoration work before construction could begin. Rasch and Carroll, who also operate the hotel, updated a local dam in cooperation with the Army Corps of Engineers. "We're hoping that will actually help with the health of the lake long term, because the dam has been broken for a very long time," said Carroll, who grew up in the area.
A centerpiece of the project is the conversion of an 1870s structure into Cliff House, the resort's restaurant and welcome center. The historic building featured an American chestnut frame, portions of which were preserved and incorporated into the new wood-clad restaurant design. The renovation process involved stripping away layers of accumulated materials to return the structure to its "bare bones" before rebuilding. Unused chestnut wood from the project was repurposed by designer Ben Bloomstein of Green River Project LLC, who transformed it into custom furniture pieces.
The renovated Cliff House now features a wraparound porch, standing-seam metal roof, and new wooden structure that respects the building's historic footprint while providing modern amenities. A similar architectural approach was used for the pool house, which includes a large overhang covering a lounge area, with saunas and changing rooms housed inside.
The 49 guest cabins were designed by Alander Construction and fabricated by Zook Cabins, an Amish building studio based in Pennsylvania. Each cabin was constructed on a chassis and delivered to the site fully assembled. The cedar-clad structures feature a deliberately minimalist design, with one side largely closed and the other opening to large windows that frame landscape views. The interiors showcase pine walls with colorful accent fixtures, and the cabins come in two sizes – some with private bathrooms and others without.
"That was always part of the design, being in the landscape as much as possible," Carroll explained. "We're bombarded with so much information already, so having a quiet space and letting nature be the thing that you're looking at or that you're engaging with, as opposed to engaging so much in the cabin, was important. But I wanted it to be comfortable as well."
The project places significant emphasis on environmental restoration and native landscaping. Landscape designer Raina Weber collaborated with landscape studio Andropogon Associates and environmental consultants BioHabitats to implement comprehensive native plantings throughout the property. The team planted more than 2,500 trees as "wetland gardens" along the lakeshore, interventions that help cool the site, attract pollinators, and stabilize the shoreline.
Additional amenities across the property include a large wooden pavilion with a polycarbonate roof designed for outdoor gatherings, personal saunas positioned along the shoreline, and new dock infrastructure. The thoughtful integration of these structures demonstrates the project's commitment to harmonizing built elements with the natural environment while providing guests with comprehensive recreational facilities.
The Prospect Berkshires project represents a growing trend in hospitality design that uses multiple small structures to integrate guests more closely with natural landscapes. This approach allows visitors to experience the outdoors while maintaining modern comfort levels, positioning the resort as a destination for year-round retreats in one of New England's most celebrated scenic regions.
