Spotlight

17th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition Ten elite judges have been selected to preside over the 17th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition taking place at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa on Nov. 16th. All entries will be on display at the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa from Nov 18 - Jan 3. The public is invited to view the displays any Mon. - Thur. from 10am - 10pm More Info (PDF)

By Tom Crosby

(March 2009) Since 1913, rocking chairs, immense stone fireplaces and sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains have charmed and relaxed guests at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, a 152 acre property located just minutes from downtown Asheville, North Carolina.

The Grove Park Resort & Spa became more than just a hotel in 2001, when it opened its $44 million, 43,000-square-foot-spa. The spa is the centerpiece of an ongoing $70 million property improvement plan that included recent renovations to the Main Inn, guest rooms, suites, ballrooms and meeting rooms. The Resort has become a destination of its own, offering a variety of activities for the entire family year round.

The Grove Park consistently responds to industry-wide trends. Keeping competitive with other resorts/spas, The Grove Park Inn has 37 multi purpose resources for body services.

Elaine D. Sammons, owner of The Grove Park Inn, quoted E. W. Grove, who founded the Inn, when she talked about the spa and said the spa was "built not for the present alone, but for the admiration of generations yet unborn." She realized her vision to build the finest resort spa in North America as evidenced by the Resort’s most recent accolade - The prestigious Travel + Leisure Magazine’s 2008 “World’s Best Awards” ranked The Spa as the 13th best hotel spa in the world and ranked it 5th in the United States.

History
The Inn's sense of history and style is similar to the nearby Biltmore Estate built 28 years earlier. Many visitors to Biltmore stay at The Grove Park Inn as part of their immersion in the grandeur of earlier times.

The Grove Park Inn opened in 1913. The hotel was the vision of E.W. Grove, a St. Louis entrepreneur and the hotel was modeled after the grand old railway hotels of the West. After WWII, the Inn was in financial trouble, but fortunately, in 1955, the hotel caught the eye of a Dallas businessman named Charles Sammons. Under the stewardship of Sammons and his wife Elaine, the Inn was fully restored and, in1973, it was named to the National Register of Historic Places.

Lobby
Known as The Great Hall, the lobby, the hall features 24-foot ceilings and two gigantic 14-foot stone fireplaces on two sides. Famous for the elevators, two are cleverly hidden in the chimneys of the stone fireplaces, Operated by resort employees, the elevators still transport guests to their rooms today.

Rooms
The Grove Park Inn has 512 guest rooms including 12 suites and 28 oversized Club Floor rooms All rooms at The Grove Park Inn, have been completely refurbished in recent years. Visitors that have not been to the Inn since its renovation will be delighted with the transformation.

All rooms provide the same quiet charm of a bygone era with modern amenities.

With the renovation, the Inn introduced theme rooms and suites. The themes include: The Bob Timberlake, The Craftsman, The Donald Ross, The Fabulous Fifties, The Gallery, The Gatsby, The Spa and The Swingin’ Sixties.

Additional features include twice-daily housekeeping service with nightly turn-down, and windows that open for fresh mountain air and spectacular Blue Ridge Mountain views. Guests also enjoy complimentary access to the Sports Complex located next to The Grove Park Resort & Spa.

Spa
During 2008 The Spa expansion resulted in 3,000 additional square feet of amenity space, new waterfall cascades adjacent to the terrace, two new fire pits and lamp posts to add a more historic feel.

The walk from any guest room in The Grove Park Inn to the Resort’s underground spa is preparation for the subterranean adventure that awaits, be it relaxation in the mineral pools, saunas, whirlpools or being pampered for several hours.

The walk is also a journey through the Resort’s history — from its spectacular rise on Asheville’s Sunset Mountain in 1913 to its debut as a premier destination of the new millennium.

The design, which harmonizes with the architecture of the original inn, features elaborate stone walks and terraces extending downhill from the hotel to The Spa.

The inside is like a natural cavern or grotto with skylights, elaborate pools and waterfalls. Under the direction of Jaime A. Huffman, MPH, The Spa offers the ultimate spa experience — from champagne and caviar facials to aromatherapy to Shiatsu to the signature treatment - Fire, Rock Water and Light.

Between appointments you may relax beside the fireplace or enjoy refreshments in The Spa Café. Resort guests have priority use of The Spa, but non-guests are also welcome if space is available.

Dining
Horizons and Sunset Terrace Restaurants have received various awards of excellence. The Grove Park Inn’s flagship restaurant, Horizons, boasts attention to detail in its service.is the more formal dining room. With innovative classic cuisine, it consistently earns the AAA Four Diamond Award as well as Wine Spectators “Best of Award of Excellence.”  The Sunset Terrace also boasts Wine Spectators “Award of Excellence.”

Offering lavish weekend buffets, the Blue Ridge Dining Room also offers an extensive menu featuring Southern Appalachian Comfort Cuisine and overlooks the Asheville skyline. The Friday Seafood Buffet, Saturday Prime Rib Buffet and Sunday Brunch are served in grand style.

The Spa Café is open for lunch daily. The menu includes refreshing fruit smoothies, fresh salads, wraps, sandwiches and other healthy offerings.

Golf and Tennis
The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa has been recognized as one of the finest golf and tennis resorts worldwide. In 2001, golf course architect Kris Spence was hired to completely restore The Golf Course back to its original Donald Ross design from the 1920s. The Resort spent $2.5 million to restore The Golf Course. In 2002, Spence’s work was recognized as “Best Restoration” in the U.S. by Golfweek magazine.

The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa features three indoor and three outdoor hard floor tennis courts located at its 50,000 square foot Sports Complex. This facility also features fitness and children’s programs, comprehensive aerobic and weight rooms, indoor swimming pool and racquetball court. Offerings include junior tennis camps and adult tennis weekends.

Entertainment & Lounges
The Grove Park Inn is one of the few resorts providing quality entertainment every night of the week.

The Great Hall Bar features a full service bar, table service with limited menu, and a house band awarded the title “Best Dance Band in Western North Carolina.” Guests are encouraged to request songs from the Big Band era to today’s current hits.

Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar provides a non-stop rock ‘n roll sing-a-long party show, Wednesday through Saturday evenings. Full bar service and table service in an upscale setting.

The Magnolia Lounge, located in the Sammons Wing, offers a delightfully relaxed, club-like atmosphere with couches and Arts & Crafts lounge chairs. Giant picture windows provide a front row center view of the mountains as you sip signature martinis and cocktails. A limited menu is offered.

Shopping
As you meander from the lobby to the Vanderbilt Wing, you'll enter “A Walk In The Park” featuring four boutique shops including Signature of Grove Park - Memories and mementos of The Grove Park Inn; Tastings of Grove Park - Epicurean tastes and tools, authentically Grove Park Inn; Christmas in the Park - Holiday traditions with a Grove Park Inn twist; Treasures from the Park - Gifts and crafts from around the world in the Grove Park Inn style.