Grove Park Inn is a Gem!

​The Omni Grove Park Inn, located in Asheville, N.C., is a wonderful place to rejuvenate and unwind with fresh and crisp mountain air.   The granite boulder-covered resort, acquired by Omni Hotels & Resorts in 2013, is perfectly placed with sweeping views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It recently underwent a $25-million restoration and renovation in which a new restaurant, Edison, was added.
One of the Historic Hotels of America, Grove Park was built in 1912 and was known as a great resort in the 1920’s. At that time guests were not allowed to consume alcohol and were discouraged from bringing children. F. Scott Fitzgerald took up residence in the hotel’s halls in the summers of 1935 and 1936, and the resort faded in the 1950’s. Through numerous restorations and renovations, the resort has become an old-fashioned, yet luxurious destination resort, though it is now one that welcomes children wholeheartedly. Today, the children’s programs keep kids 5 to 12 outdoors and having fun, while parents enjoy the slope-side golf course, the incredible spa, and drinks from the sunset terrace.
At least ten presidents and countless celebrities have stayed in the very rooms your family can stay in today. Doors are fastened with small plaques announcing which famous person stayed inside the room, and in what year. Guests have included magicians Harry Houdini and David Copperfield; actors Anthony Hopkins, Danny Glover and Gene Hackman; writers F. Scott Fitzgerald; dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov; Olympians Dorothy Hamill and Viktor Petrenko; presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Franklin D. Roosevelt; and even a beloved mouse by the name of Mickey.
The hotel’s mascot, Major Bear, is featured everywhere in The Omni Grove Park Inn, from children’s books sold in the resort’s stores to stuffed bears that kids will want to take home.  The fuzzy bear also makes frequent appearances around the property!
Guestrooms and suites can be selected in the Historic Main Inn, which was opened in 1913, the Vanderbilt Wing, the Sammons Wing, and the Club floor. Rooms feature free Wi-Fi, microwave, refrigerator, coffeemaker and pay-per-view and video games. The Main Inn rooms are furnished with craftsman-era furnishings, while the newer wings feature more spacious rooms. Rooms vary by view, with panorama corner rooms in the Main Inn and Sammons Wing boasting the best mountain views and more space. Mountain view rooms are found in the Contemporary wings and Main Inn, facing the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountain ranges and the resort's golf course. Property view rooms overlook the spa or property. Value rooms are small rooms with one bed in the Main Inn – while they may be charming, they are not meant for families.
The newest dining addition at Omni Grove Park Inn, Edison, features craft beers and Southern comfort food. It also offers both indoor and outdoor dining, with lovely views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They are open for lunch and dinner until 11 p.m. nightly.
Amongst several other great dining venues, the Sunset Terrace is the place to dine when staying at the Grove Park Inn. With an outdoor patio that overlooks the spa, golf course and the Blue Ridge Mountains, this spot is the most popular place to have a drink at sunset. Indoor dining is also available, and it is open for lunch and dinner, with steak and seafood being their top selections. The Spa Café, which is attached to the spa, has…you guessed it… a selection of healthy menu options such as salads and sandwiches. There is also a poolside casual and open-air restaurant that is perfect of lunch with the kids around the pool- as it offers the usual hamburgers, hotdogs, quesadillas, salads, and sandwiches.   
While staying at the Grove Park Inn be sure to visit the downtown area of Asheville to take in some other great restaurants and boutique shopping.  The entire area is literally a breath of fresh air and a perfect place to escape and unwind!