Gingerbread House Display Opens at Grove Park Inn

Gingerbread Grand Prize Winner 2012

See the winners and many of the entries at this year’s National Gingerbread House Competition at Grove Park Inn in Asheville. Except for the base, all of the 180 entries are constructed entirely of edible materials. The results are simply amazing. Entries were judged on overall appearance, originality/ creativity, difficulty, precision and consistency of theme. See photos that we took yesterday on opening day (November 20) in our Gingerbread House Competition Guide on RomanticAsheville.com.  They will be on display through January 2, 2013.

While hotel or restaurant guests may view the display at any time, others can view entries on Sundays-Thursdays, 10 AM until 10 PM. While there is no admission charge, there are new parking fees this year: outdoor self-parking $10, garage parking $12 and valet parking $15. Most entries are on the main lobby floor in both wings. Get a map at the information desk in the lobby.

The grand prize winning entry and selected other winners will be removed from the display during the third week of December as the resort transports them to New York City for its 13th straight appearance on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” This year’s winners are:

Adult category

• Grand prize winner: Ann Bailey, Cary
• Second: Linda Carney, Asheville
• Third: Glenda Tant, Lebanon, TN

Child category

• First: Briley Ervin, Greenback, TN
• Second: Miss Howie’s First Grade Class from Black Mountain Primary School
• Third: Shan Patel, Asheville

Youth category

• First: Lydia Gentry, Hendersonville
• Second: Carly & Carter Cantrell, Cookeville, TN
• Third: Grace Lebo, Nashville, TN

Teen category

• First: Carly Owens, Swannanoa
• Second: Mary Figueroa, Fishers, IN
• Third: Lilli McFerrin, Black Mountain

Go to RomanticAsheville.com for more info on the Gingerbread House Competition and Grove Park Inn.

Winners of Gingerbread House Competition Named at Grove Park in Asheville

Grand Prize Winner of National Gingerbread House Competition

Hundreds of entries from over 20 states were scrutinized by a panel of 11 elite judges, with winners from four categories selected at today’s 19th Annual National Gingerbread House Competition at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa in beautiful Asheville, NC.

“Each year The National Gingerbread House Competition becomes even more competitive with such a wide variety of gingerbread creativity.  Our judges come prepared to select winners whose overall scores are often separated by only a few points,” said Ronald E. Morin, Vice President and Managing Director at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa.  “This year we have contestants entering from as far away as South Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.  The determination shown by competitors to travel with their gingerbread creations hundreds of miles reflects a significant commitment to this competition.”

For photos of other winners and details on how to visit the massive display, go to http://www.romanticasheville.com/gingerbread.htm.

Entries were judged on overall appearance, originality/creativity, difficulty, precision and consistency of theme.  Except for the base, the entries must be constructed entirely of edible materials.  Each year, The National Gingerbread House Competition awards more than $12,000 in cash and prizes, with the grand prize winner receiving a $3,000 cash prize, a two night Club Floor stay at The Grove Park Inn, complimentary access to Grove Park’s world-renowned Spa facilities, and dinner and breakfast for two daily.

All entries from The National Gingerbread House Competition will be displayed at The Grove Park Inn from November 16th, 2011 through January 1st, 2012 and at The Grove Arcade in downtown Asheville.  Community viewing days are Sundays through Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.  Resort guests who have booked accommodations, dining or Spa treatments may view the displays at any time.  Groups and bus charters should call ahead for reservations.