There are plenty of worthy destinations in the Berkshires that are household names in the Valley—Shakespeare & Co., Jacob’s Pillow, MASS MoCA and Club Helsinki, to name a few. One of the best attractions, however, may be one of the least well known. Nestled on a 43-acre wooded lot deep in the middle of the October Mountain State Forest, the Dream Away Lodge in Becket is a rambling white clapboard house surrounded by lush gardens and hiking trails. On the first floor (owner Daniel Osman lives upstairs), a barroom straddles the dining and music rooms, which are decorated with knick-knacks like ceramic Madonnas, mismatched furniture, rooster wallpaper, chaise lounges, beer posters and other vibrant kitsch, lending the establishment a homey, welcoming vibe.
Before becoming the Dream Away, the house was a hunting lodge and speakeasy. In the ‘40s, Mama Frasca and her three daughters opened up the Dream Away as an Italian restaurant and serenaded diners while they ate. Over the years, many performers, including legends Bob Dylan and Liberace, have graced the stage of the Dream Away.
Osman bought the lodge in the late ‘90s, after it suffered a decade-plus period of decline and disrepair, and has restored it to its full glory and then some, adding Sunday brunch and maintaining an impressive roster of musicians who perform in the intimate, wood-paneled music room.
The lineup for the coming week includes Mike and Ruthy, Mark Miloff and Sit Down Baby, Kate McGarry and the Bindlestiff Family Circus, and a bevy of regional musicians arrives Wednesday nights for an open mic. Dinner is served Wednesday through Sunday; reservations are strongly encouraged.•
The Dream Away Lodge is located at 1342 County Rd., Becket, (413) 623-8725, www.myspace.com/thedreamawaylodge.
