Charlemont is an outdoor destination town in the Berkshires
At the edge of the Berkshire Mountains sits the rural town of Charlemont, a historic Franklin County community known for its natural landscape and open-air recreation. The town was incorporated in 1765 along the banks of the Deerfield River and today has a population of just under 1,200 residents. “Charlemont is one of the Berkshires’ destination towns. I call it an outdoor playground,” says Cathy Roberts, a local Realtor with Cohn & Company Real Estate Agency who has extensive experience selling homes in Franklin County. The town’s tourism industry has grown over the last several decades thanks to places like the Berkshire East Mountain Resort and Mohawk Trail State Forest. Visitors can also check out local historical landmarks like the Bissell Covered Bridge along Route 8A. And while the outdoor recreational opportunities attract seasonal visitors, Charlemont’s permanent residents are often drawn to the small-town feel and quiet living this area offers. “We have a lot of people who gravitate out this way when they just get tired of all the noise,” Roberts says. The small city of Greenfield is a 30-minute drive east and has amenities like supermarkets, a train station and access to major highways.
Berkshire East Mountain Resort has year-round recreation
Given its proximity to the Berkshires and the Deerfield River, Charlemont has earned a reputation as an outdoor playground in the Northeast. “People come to Charlemont to experience the Berkshires and do all the mountain activities,” Roberts says. “They also come here to fish.” With the Deerfield River running through the middle of town, fishing is a popular pastime. Late fall to early spring is ski season, and each year, residents and visitors alike flock to the snowy hills of the Berkshire East Mountain resort. After the snow melts, the resort switches operations to other recreational activities. “Berkshire East Mountain may be primarily a ski resort, but it’s becoming a lot more than just that. It’s not just skiing anymore. There are other activities to do there now during the warmer seasons,” Roberts says. During late spring and summer, people can head to Berkshire East Mountain for the resort’s Thunder Mountain Bike Park, Thunderbolt Mountain Coaster and whitewater rafting excursions. The resort also offers canopy tours via zip lines that take visitors nearly 200 feet above ground and send them zooming above the trees at speeds up to 60 miles per hour. Zoar Outdoor is another company in Charlemont that offers outdoor experiences, including whitewater rafting, kayaking and ziplining. This area also has abundant hiking trails at places like Mohawk Trail State Forest, Todd Mountain and Negus Mountain. Hawlemont Regional Elementary School’s campus has a playground and athletic facilities, including a baseball field and basketball court.
Custom homes from the 20th century
Many homes in Charlemont were built before or during the 1930s, with some properties dating back to the early 19th century, and construction in the area continued at a slower but steadier pace throughout the mid-to-late 20th century and into the early 2000s. That broad range means that Charlemont homes showcase everything from custom wooden cabins and ranch-style homes to Craftsman builds, Victorian-inspired homes and colonial styles. Farms and multi-acre properties are located closer to or in the countryside, while houses near the center of town typically sit closer together. The median listing value in Charlemont is just over $410,000. Single-family homes can range anywhere from approximately $250,000 to $850,000, while undeveloped land lot prices vary depending on acreage and location.
Town events at the Charlemont Fairgrounds
The Charlemont Fairgrounds – which spans 24 acres and has an oval-shaped racing track, a covered pavilion and a grandstand – is the site of many annual town events and celebrations. Temporary exhibits and entertainment attractions have rotated through the fairgrounds since it opened in 1871. Popular events include the annual Charlemont Reggae Festival, an August celebration of Caribbean music, food and art that’s been around for more than 25 years.
Students can attend Mohawk Trail Regional School
Charlemont is zoned for the Mohawk Trail/Hawlemont Regional School Districts, which receives a collective C-plus rating from Niche. Hawlemont Regional Elementary School serves students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade and is rated D-plus. The B-minus-rated Mohawk Trail Regional School is a combined middle and high school for students in grades seven through 12. Older students at Mohawk Trail Regional can take Advanced Placement courses or enroll in early college classes in partnership with Greenfield Community College. “These kids today have choices; they can get all these credits ahead of time, and they can graduate early,” Roberts says. “Greenfield Community College is close by; it’s a two-year community college, and it’s a great place to get a degree or use it as a steppingstone for what’s next.”
The town is also home to The Academy at Charlemont, an A-rated private institution for sixth through 12th-grade students. The campus covers more than 33 acres along the Deerfield River and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 7-to-1. More than 95% of students who graduate later attend a four-year college.
Charlemont has local markets and restaurants
Charlemont is home to a host of local businesses that offer basic shopping and dining services for residents and visitors. Cold River is a combination market and café with a small grocery selection and a menu full of American meal options. Avery’s General Store sells other food items and everyday necessities. Local restaurant options include the Dirt Church Brewing Company, Berkshire Pizzeria and Crazy Horse Bar and Grill at the Berkshire East Mountain Resort. More shopping and dining options are available in Greenfield, located 18 miles east of Charlemont. “Greenfield has a hospital, doctor’s offices, bigger food stores – if you want the big box stores, you’re close enough that you can go there, buy what you need and then come right back into town,” Roberts says.
Mohawk Trail is a scenic highway connecting to Greenfield
Because of its rural and somewhat secluded nature, Charlemont is a car-dependent community. The main thoroughfare running through Charlemont is Massachusetts Route 2, also known as Mohawk Trail. The route is a well-known scenic highway that crosses through the Berkshires and connects Charlemont to places like Greenfield to the east and the city of North Adams to the west. The Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) offers a daily bus service between Greenfield and Charlemont via Route 41. In Greenfield, people can find an Amtrak rail station and the Baystate Franklin Medical Center, which has 24-hour emergency services. Albany International Airport in New York is the nearest commercial airport, approximately 65 miles away.
