Prospect Lake Park first opened as a picnic ground nearly 250 years ago. People gathered from all around, arriving by horse and carriage, dressed to the nines, to experience the nation’s newest activity: picnicking! The opening of the modest lakeside Cliff House in 1876—a small tavern with rented rooms for guests—was celebrated with great fanfare.
Following a succession of owners (namely, the Van Bramer, Millard, and Siter families), the park was purchased by Helen and Bill Carroll in 1958 and expanded into a campground with camp sites, bath facilities, a laundromat, and a snack bar. As local historian Gary Leveille (author of “Eye of Shawenon: A Berkshire History of North Egremont, Prospect Lake, and the Green River Valley”) noted, the campground on the eastern side of the lake“ was an exciting, adventurous place. It had a towering water slide, raft with diving board, recreation hall with pinball machines and juke box, rowboats to rent, and good fishing!” Over the years, it evolved into a campground and RV park with over 125 sites.
The lake (formerly known as Winchel’s Pond) attracted “a community of people whose lives were enriched by deep friendships forged over decades of summer adventures at what can fairly be called a simple, unpretentious, and affordable gathering place. It was a campground whose location, long history, traditional amenities, and forest-and-shoreline layout made it more personal and community-oriented than many,” Leveille wrote.
An ambitious restoration project
In January 2022, following long discussions with the park’s most recent owners, Jim and Kathy Palmatier, Ian Rasch and Roman Montano of Alander Construction (via 50 Prospect Lake Road, LLC) purchased the property—encompassing two large parcels of land and all of its buildings and infrastructure—for $2.1 million with the goal of restoring it to a dining and recreation facility. “This has always been a gathering place for hospitality in different forms. Our mission in all of our business endeavors is to connect guests and staff to nature, culture, and community,” Rasch explains.
Over the past four years, Alander has razed 16 mold-infested cabins, rebuilt the utilities (including internet, water, and electricity), constructed 49 modern cabins, and undertaken a holistic property rehabilitation to create Prospect—a year-round “cultural destination and retreat” (according to the website). “We worked with over 160 local craftspeople: carpenters, electricians, plumbers, mechanical contractors, site workers, arborists, metal fabricators, stone masons, architects and engineers, and surveyors,” Rasch acknowledges, citing contributions by James Obanhein Electric, Sisco Tech, Dan Paris Plumbing, R.J. Wilkinson Excavation, Mitchison & Sons Excavation, and Keith Wilkinson Excavation as the project’s primary subcontractors. In conjunction with the Yale School of Forestry, Andropogon, Biohabitats, and Raina Weber, they also completed an extensive ecological habitat restoration project, planting over 700 native trees, bushes, and grasses to help protect Prospect Lake.
Throughout the process, the team collaborated with the Town of Egremont, namely the Egremont Select Board, Board of Health, Conservation Commission, Zoning Board of Appeals, Planning Board, Building Inspector, and Fire Chief. “Over the last 25 years, I’ve worked with many cities and municipalities. The public/private partnership with the Town of Egremont has been second to none,” Rasch praises. In particular, he highlights George McGurn, “a true visionary and advocate for all things Egremont, without whose encouragement and support, I’m not sure we would have taken on this incredibly ambitious project.”
“At Alander, we are committed to creating more environmentally, socially, and economically resilient communities,” Rasch continues. “As builders and developers, we are transforming properties to be more resource-efficient and resilient—through energy and water conservation measures, renewable energy generation, healthy building materials, and green operations and certifications—to reduce our impact on the environment.”
Continuing ties to nature and community
Rasch’s parents (Stephan and Julie Rasch) were familiar with Botton Village, one of the first Camphill Village communities for people with developmental differences in North Yorkshire, and were very interested in setting up their own community—a dream that culminated in helping to found Camphill Village Copake in the 1960s (the oldest and largest Camphill community in the U.S.), where Rasch grew up. “We had foreigners living with us constantly and would visit them [in their home countries] during the summer,” he explains. “Growing up in the Camphill community in Copake felt like living in a European village, with narrow roads, foot paths, and bridges—all set on a 600-acre property so we could explore independently,” he reminisces. His goal is to create that kind of freedom to explore in nature at Prospect Lake.
“My father is German, with family in Switzerland and throughout Europe, so we would typically go to Europe for the summer and stay in tiny cabins,” he shares. “I spent a lot of time with my family in Scandinavia. There’s a whole tradition of 400- to 500-square-foot summer cottages (known as hyttes) where people immerse themselves in nature and disengage, often with the help of saunas.” As Rasch describes it, Scandinavian farmers and herders built the cottages from wood out in the countryside or in the forest, offering basic comforts (no running water or electricity) and minimal furnishings (a table, a few chairs, a basic bed, and a wooden stove).
Thus, for Rasch, the “park model RVs” (tiny wood houses on trailers, with minimal furnishings) are an homage to both the Norwegian cottages and the Camphill Village sense of community. His vision for Prospect Lake is to create a similarly tech-free experience where people can appreciate nature and quietude, utilize art kits and writing journals for creative pursuits, and connect with one another. “In the last two weeks since we’ve opened, we’ve observed that everyone parks outside [the entrance to Prospect] and then walks or gets driven in a slow-moving golf cart from the entry point in order to enjoy nature,” he notes with pride.
Building lightly on the land
Rasch’s first career was music. Growing up with a father who was a classically trained pianist and violinist, it’s not surprising that the younger Rasch started playing the cello at the age of six. His “music track” led him to Oberlin, Juilliard, and the Aspen Music Festival. “When I was 16 or 17 and in Aspen, I realized that the age of the prodigies was getting younger and younger, so I finished my degree in music and went on to real estate school at New York University to pursue my career,” he says.
He read extensively, including works by academic architects such as Christopher Alexander and Vincent Scully, which piqued his interest in social architecture—the conscious design of an environment that reflects the natural landscape. “’Build lightly on the land’ was their mantra,” Rasch explains.
He has attempted to apply this philosophy to his own projects. Still, he admits that there was initial acrimony when the Prospect Berkshires project was announced—pushback from the local community and long-time campers over turning the RV campgrounds into an upscale glamping and hospitality resort. “We’ve been very conscious about keeping it open to everyone while making the necessary renovations,” Rasch says. In the process, they’ve also tried to support the local community, noting that if it’s not a culture and community hub for the people who live here, the project won’t survive. Toward that end, they are offering a 30 percent discount for locals all summer and a 50 percent discount during the other seasons.
Moreover, in partnership with the Town of Egremont, they will provide 10 parking spaces off Mill Road for Egremont residents on a first-come, first-served basis, with lake access from Memorial Day through Labor Day (7 a.m. to 7 p.m.). “It’s the first time in 149 years that Egremont residents have had access to the lake on private property,” Rasch points out, adding that restroom facilities will also be provided on Mill Road.
For area bird lovers, it’s worth noting that the swallows, who remained stalwart during the entire construction process and return every year, still have a home in the park. “We built a nesting ledge into the eaves along the lake side of The Cliff House just for them,” Rasch assures.
There are no power boats allowed on the lake, so the setting will remain peaceful. “We have kayaks, canoes, paddle boards, and Sunfish sailboats on three different piers,” he explains. Asked whether the noise level could become an issue for nearby residents, he notes that the reduced density (from 125 RVs to 49 cabins), along with an 11 p.m. liquor license restriction, serve as a natural curfew for guests. “The whole purpose is to encourage people to enjoy the peaceful natural surroundings, so we attract a different clientele.”
The return of The Cliff House
As soon as the cabins were finished in May, bookings began to flow in—strictly by word of mouth. And now that The Cliff House restaurant is complete, they are starting to advertise. Nancy Thomas—co-founder and proprietor of Mezze in Williamstown, Blue Bird in Hancock, and Mezze Hospitality Group (the catering arm)—is the culinary force behind the operation, which had its official opening this past Saturday (May 31). “She is ‘the game’ in town, and has dedicated her life to building a workforce of talented people who survive and thrive by offering a really good product,” Rasch recognizes.
“We wanted to keep the menu simple, not fancy, inspired by the European sense of hospitality, which prioritizes the level of food and care,” he continues. “And we’re connected to local farmers throughout the Berkshires (Egremont-based Indian Line Farm is one partner) and the surrounding region, including in New York and Connecticut. We want all of our employees to feel invested and proud.”
The current menu features fish croquettes with charred scallion aioli as a snack option, kale salad with pecorino, anchovies, and crouton among the small plate offerings, and Hudson Valley steelhead trout, spring lamb stew, and an eight-ounce prime New York strip as popular entrées.
Stewarding the land—and creating a sense of adventure
“As residents of this community and local business owners, Roman and I are deeply committed to making the Berkshires viable for both locals and visitors alike,” Rasch asserts, adding, “At Alander, we employ over 40 full-time residents, and all but five own a home in Berkshire County. We are committed to living wage jobs that allow our team to thrive and grow in Berkshire County.” He notes that Alander is also partnering with Construct, Inc. to build workforce housing and with the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce to create a new visitor center in downtown Great Barrington.
“Maintaining and preserving the land and the classic New England traditions are important,” he emphasizes. “As stewards of the Prospect property, we are committed to continuing the legacy of Prospect Lake—connecting staff and guests to nature, culture, and community and continuing in the spirit of humility, care, safety, and a sense of adventure and fun.”
