Grove Park Inn is popular pick for leaf seekers mountain bound, part 1

By Kathy M. Newbern and J.S. Fletcher © 2010
(Part 1 of 2)

As the calendar flips to September, North Carolina mountain lovers' thoughts often turn to autumn leaf season. If heading to the Blue Ridge Parkway (celebrating 75 years this fall) and seeking a place to stay around Asheville, a popular spot is the Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa (GPI), the grandaddy of fine area hotels.

Built in 1913 by Edwin Wiley Grove, GPI offers the quintessential mountain getaway, from golf and tennis, to pampering spa services to fine dining. Despite its 512 rooms that keep 1,000 employees busy, there’s a coziness to GPI’s turn-of-the-century feel that still prevails today.

Grove Part Inn’s historic yet elegant accommodations, Blue Ridge Mountains backdrop, and a world-class spa take you back in time yet satiate your every modern craving.

GPI is steeped in natural beauty and history: the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains attracted innovative men who were drawn to the Asheville area since the late 1800s. In addition to founder Edwin W. Grove – a businessman and entrepreneur from St. Louis who made his fortune selling an elixir he created and called Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic - the likes of Thomas Edison, Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone were regular visitors.

Then there’s the man-made beauty: The jaw-dropping starts when you approach the native-granite exterior that’s capped with an undulating red-tile roof. From the tree-lined driveway, bordered by a water-garden just off the massive brick-inlaid drive, to the portico where rocking chairs promise a restful stay, the Grove Park Inn “arrival” is a forever memory.

The feeling continues inside in The Great Hall. On each side of the lobby are huge, matching, two-story stone fireplaces, big enough to hold 12-foot-long logs and tall enough for people to actually stand upright inside (see the slideshow). Even unlit, the smell evokes a sense of autumn.

In between are reception running along one wall; rockers for prime fireplace viewing; cushy leather seats and couches, flanked by Mission-styles tables and stained glass lamps; plus The Great Hall Bar in one corner near  the entrance to The Sunset Terrace where open-air dining and a stunning view of the Blue Ridge Mountains await.

(Continued in Part 2)

If You're Going: Call 800-438-5800 or visit www.groveparkinn.com to make reservations.

Fun Fact: You can star in your own romance novel set at the Grove Park Inn, YourNovel.com's For the Ages. On a getaway for autumn’s "leaf season," the starring couple explore all the resort has to offer, from its world-class spa and exquisite cuisine to a one-of-a-kind history lesson. An insightful guide accompanies them back through the years where they meet some of the historic Inn’s most notable guests, such as Thomas Edison, Harry Houdini and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Even the Pink Lady, the resort’s resident ghost, plays into what they learn about life and love during their adventure.

If you enjoyed this story, you might also enjoy these:

• Other Stories by Kathy M. Newbern
• Stories by J.S. Fletcher, International Travel Examiner
• @FletcherNewbern
• @YourNovelcom

Luxury Travel Examiner Kathy M. Newbern and spouse, J.S. Fletcher, report on luxury destinations, spas and cruising around the globe. They are award-winning members of the Society of American Travel Writers and created YourSpaReport.com and YourNovel.com, their personalized romance novel business.