Grove Park Inn Celebrates 100th Anniversary in Asheville

Special 100th Anniversary painting of Grove Park by William Mangum

Celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Grove Park Inn with entertaining events and indulgent specials. The legendary Asheville hotel invites you to mark its Centennial year in festive style with delectable food and beverage offerings;  themed spa treatments inspired by the resort’s tradition of relaxation and rejuvenation; and an Open House.

Grove Park has served famous guests such as Eleanor Roosevelt, F. Scott Fitzgerald, President Clinton and President Obama. To honor the anniversary, the Inn launched a series of Centennial Cocktails, including The Bootlegger, The Corset, The Pink Lady, and Donald Ross “Tee.” The nine cocktails will be rotated at resort dining outlets and served in signature take-home Centennial glasses atop napkins printed with recipes.

Also raise a frothy glass with the Centennial Pale Ale. The signature American-style pale ale was created exclusively for the Inn by Highland Brewery in Asheville. Order a glass at all resort dining outlets or pick up a six pack at the gift shop.

Looking to satisfy their sweet tooth? Fill up at the Centennial Dessert Buffet featuring historically significant desserts that have been served throughout the years, including Boston Cream Pie, Fruit Melba, Zanzibar Pudding, Mississippi Mud and Toll House Cookies. Selections will be available at the Blue Ridge Dining Room every weekend.

Since its inception, The Grove Park Inn has been a health and wellness destination for city dwellers looking for rest and rejuvenation in the pure mountain air. Continuing this legacy, their Spa has unveiled signature celebratory treatments including a Centennial Grove Stone Massage, Centennial Grove Stone Facial and the Centennial Grove Stone Pedicure. With each treatment, receive a Centennial engraved stone and Centennial Spa Tonic – fashioned in the tradition of resort founder E.W. Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic – mixed with blends of lemon, rosemary and lavender.

The Centennial Anniversary Celebration and Open House take place on Friday, July 12, 2013 – 100 years to the day since it opened its doors on July 12, 1913. An event not to be missed, local, regional, and out-of-town guests, are welcome to attend the open house, which will celebrate the Inn’s long presence in local arts and entertainment, as well as its role in American history. With a $25 million renovation including the opening of its new restaurant, Edison, the addition of new retail outlets, and enhancements to meeting and event space and the Vanderbilt Guest Rooms, there is be plenty for The Grove Park Inn to reveal. The open house will also celebrate the area culture and heritage that has played such a big role in the Inn’s success over the past century. For the event, the Inn has collaborated with local partners such as the Ashville Art Museum, The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area and the Nantahala Outdoor Center, and feature local artists such as quilt maker Pattiy Torno and the Carolina Mountain Woodturners. Guided History Tours of the hotel start at 10 AM and fireworks at 9:30 PM.

Read more about The Grove Park Inn.

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.