The fascinating history of our Asheville, North Carolina resort is a story about passion, people and the purity of spirit. For nearly 100 years, The Grove Park Inn has been a special place where travelers from around the world have escaped to the serenity of the mountains to experience our legendary service and Southern hospitality. At our opening dinner on July 12, 1913, William Jennings Bryan declared that The Grove Park Inn had been "built for the ages." To read about the history of our grand historic resort in Asheville, NC, buy Built For The Ages: A History of The Grove Park Inn.
Early History of The Grove Park Inn -
Built of granite boulders hewn from Sunset Mountain, and opened in 1913, The Grove Park Inn was the vision of E.W. Grove, a St. Louis entrepreneur who made millions in the 1890s selling Grove's Tasteless Chill Tonic. He envisioned a hotel that would be like "a big home where every modern convenience could be found, but with all the old-fashioned qualities of genuineness with no sham." In the 10 decades since, The Grove Park Inn has become one of the South's most famous and celebrated resorts. Modeled after the grand railway hotels of the Old West, the Inn was built from a sketch by Grove's son-in-law, the enterprising Fred Seely. A crew of 400 men built the majestic landmark in less than 12 months, dragging hundreds of tons of boulders up the mountainside with mules, wagons, ropes and pulleys, and a lone steam shovel.
Great Spaces and Big Ideas -
An innovative thinker, Seely - the hotel's first general manager - inspired guests with intellectual and spiritual ideas to improve their lives. Quotes by authors like Ralph Waldo Emerson are etched onto stones throughout the massive lobby to encourage the best part in each of us. The Great Hall measures 120 feet across and features 24-foot ceilings and two gigantic 14-foot stone fireplaces. The resort's grand lobby is famous for the elevators hidden in the chimneys of the fireplaces, which transport guests to their rooms today. The resort also has the largest public display of Arts & Crafts style furniture in the world.
Famous Guests at our Asheville Hotel -
The Grove Park Inn has been home to many American luminaries and politicians throughout the years. During the summers of 1935 and '36, author F. Scott Fitzgerald resided in Room 441. Our celebrity guests also include Harry Houdini, Will Rogers, George Gershwin, Thomas Edison, Eleanor Roosevelt and Henry Ford. Not to mention 10 U.S. presidents - William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Richard M. Nixon, George H. W. Bush, William J. Clinton and Barack H. Obama.
A National Historic Place in Asheville -
There was a time soon after World War II when the historic Inn was at risk of being torn down. Fortunately, after being purchased in 1955, under the stewardship of a Dallas businessman named Charles Sammons and his wife Elaine, the Inn was fully restored to its beautiful grandeur. And in 1973, The Grove Park was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The restoration inspired a new era of hospitality as the resort added its contemporary wings for the modern lifestyle. In 1998, a period of intensive renovation and expansion occurred, culminating in the creation of the resort's $42 million Spa. Today, The Grove Park Inn is a refreshing blend of genuine Southern charm, stunning mountain ambiance and rich history that captivates the spirit. Come experience the warm hospitality and legendary service of our grand resort in Asheville, North Carolina. The Grove Park Inn is a member of Historic Hotels of America!
The Grove Park Inn - Asheville, North Carolina (NC) Located at
