The Historic Grove Park Inn

Edwin Wiley Grove, the founder of Grove’s Pharmacy, who became a self-made millionaire with the success of his product, Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic.  The tonic was a treatment for malaria, which was rampant in those days.

Grove’s daughter, Evelyn, married Frederick Loring Seely, who was instrumental in the design and construction of the Grove Park Inn. The main inn was built with a unique steel and concrete structure and featured massive stone fireplaces and working elevators concealed within the rocks. The inn aimed to provide a peaceful and quiet environment for its guests. Additionally, the text highlights the influence of the Arts and Crafts movement in the Inn’s furniture and design. The hotel has hosted many famous guests throughout its history, including F. Scott Fitzgerald and several U.S. Presidents. After a period of decline, the inn was restored and is now part of the Omni Hotels and Resorts group, offering modern amenities while honoring its rich history.

The Omni Grove Park is a historical resort hotel on the western-facing slope of Sunset Mountain Asheville, North Carolina. Built in 1913 with its distinctive undulating red clay tile roof, 5 foot thick, locally sourced granite walls. Four-hundred men worked 10-hour shifts six days a week. With only the use of mules, wagons and ropes, granite boulders, some weighing as much as 10,000 pounds, were hauled from Sunset Mountain to build the hotel.  

Elbert Hubbard and the Roycrofters, his New York state-based Roycrofters of East Aurora, New York, community, decorated the interior. The lobby is filled with Arts and Crafts-style light fixtures, rugs, simple wooden furniture.

The Inn has hosted many famous guests throughout its history, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Harry Houdini, Helen Keller, and ten U.S. Presidents. After falling into disrepair after World War II, the hotel was restored by Charles Sammons in 1955 and was named a National Historic Place in 1973. The hotel underwent renovations in the late 20th century and was acquired by Omni Hotels and Resorts in 2013. Today, the Inn continues to provide guests with a place of rest, relaxation, and renewal while paying homage to its rich history and heritage.

For anyone interested in the Arts & Crafts movement the hotel is a must see.