North Carolina Mountains - Beautiful Vistas & Great Retreats!

[giradman]

ASHEVILLE - June 2021 TRIP - GROVE PARK INN

We decided on a mountain trip for our next post-vaccination excursion - wanted to return to the Inn on Biltmore Estate but their shuttle was not running (COVID issue), so we decided to return to the now named Omni Grove Park Inn for 4 nights - below is a post in this thread from a while back briefly explaining the property and its history with pics mostly from the web. Check the LINK below for plenty more on this historic North Carolina Mountain resort sitting on Sunset Mountain. Not sure how many posts I'll write - the weather is 'iffy' and we are not as adventuresome as in past mountain trips. Dave

P.S. 'Future' USA Presidents who have stayed at the Inn - the walls of our hotel room hallway (and likely many of the others) are hung w/ many past 'famous' guests - BTW, we are in the Sammons Wing with a beautiful mountain view.

Below is a re-post from a number of pages back in this thread:

Grove Park Inn - Historic Asheville Mountain Resort

Since this thread has been reactivated, I though a few posts about the Asheville area would be of interest, especially for those who may be traveling through western North Carolina. Although in the last ten years or so, we have invariably stayed at the Inn on Biltmore Estate (discussed & pictured in a number of previous posts in this thread). However, there is a much more famous and historic resort originally called the Grove Park Inn, but purchased and renovated by the Omni Corporation - below a description from the link.

Now in our earlier visits to Asheville (and before the Inn on Biltmore Estate was built), we typically stayed at the Grove Park Inn, but on our last visit about a decade or so ago, we still loved the place but the food had really gone downhill, which is an issue because the property is beautifully situated on Sunset Mountain (so most convenient just to eat there) w/ a spectacular scenic view of downtown Asheville requiring a mandatory drink on Sunset Porch as the sun goes down and Asheville lights up for the night. Well, now that Omni has taken over ownership, the restaurants have likely changed (hopefully for the better) and may warrant a return visit for us, as early as this fall?

The original central stone building dates back to over 100 years (see second quote below from the Omni homepage) w/ additional newer wings added, plus most recently a large spa; a beautiful Donald Ross designed mountain golf course fronts the large property. The inside lobby is spectacular w/ two huge fireplaces (the logs must be about 10 ft in length). Over the years, we've stayed in both the original and the newer wings - Susan likes the latter, but I prefer the old section where the room walls are often made of stone - MANY famous people have stayed there over the decades (if interested, check the first link above - includes nearly a dozen USA Presidents) - in fact, a number of the rooms have plaques indicating famous personages, such as F. Scott Fitzgerald (see last two images below) - the other images are pretty self-evident although I've added some text to a few.

SO, if you are planning a visit to Asheville, at least a short trip to the Grove Park Inn for lunch or late afternoon drinks on the Sunset Porch should be on your list of 'things to do' - Dave

 

[giradman]

Omni Grove Park Inn - Arrival Day

Asheville is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from our home - we are in an upper floor of the Sammons Wing (named after Charles Sammons - see the excellent 10 min video below for much more) facing the golf course, far mountains, and view of downtown Asheville. Below are some pics from this afternoon (not great because of sun glare) and early evening from the Sunset Porch (Asheville to the left). We've not stayed here since pre-Omni days probably 15 or more years ago, preferring the Inn on Biltmore Estate. But the place does bring back memories. My first visit was in 1971 when I had to appear before the State Medical Board to obtain my NC Medical License - hey, nice place for a business meeting! I've probably stayed here a half dozen times, several visits in the 'old building', including the floor where F. Scott Fitzgerald spent a few summers (see previous older post above). Dave

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[giradman]

Grove Park Inn - Dining, Drinking, & Entertainment!

The Grove Park Inn is a large complex with over 500 rooms (see first quote) and plenty of culinary delights at varied expense levels (first pic below) - our first night we decided would be our 'splurge meal' at their top restaurant, Vue 1913 - pic of the inside below (actually just above the floor of our room - floor levels on a mountain resort can be a little bizarre!); the menu is limited but items change daily - we both started w/ the night's soup, a chilled delicious 'watermelon gazpacho' w/ just a little spiciness - then the imported New Zealand elk tenderloin for us both (we mail order bison filets & elk tenderloins from the Dakota/Nebraska area in the USA); and we've had a lot of Australian/New Zealand lamb, ostrich, and emu over the years but never their elk - served medium rare and melted in our mouths. For dessert, shared the vanilla brulee. Tonight we're eating at the Sunset Terrance and expect a MUCH lower bill. Dave

When construction ended in 1988, the Grove Park Inn boasted 140 acres of grounds, 510 guest rooms, 40 meeting rooms, 2 ballrooms, 4 restaurants, 2 swimming pools, an 18-hole golf course, 9 tennis courts, and a full-service sports center.

Vue 1913 offers guests a comfortable and stylish setting for a leisurely meal designed only with the love of food in mind. The brasserie style format allows our chef the flexibility to truly showcase the best local rustic ingredients of each season which can be paired with a broad selection of wine from an abundant wine cellar cultivated over the years. All dressed up with an art deco decor and panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Vue 1913 is the perfect fit for your everyday dinner plans and your special occasions. Vue 1913 is honored to have consistently received The Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence and to be one of only two AAA Four Diamond Restaurants in Western North Carolina.

 

[giradman]

Grove Park Inn - Sports Complex

This morning we took the shuttle to the Sports Complex, a large building with outdoor (and indoor - shown below) tennis courts - large separate 'Weights Room' and 'Aerobics Room' w/ plenty of equipment - Susan did the sit down bike and I some of the weight machines and a treadmill - also has a racketball room, plus plenty of other activities - except for the first one, all pics below my own from today. The facility is for both resort guests and non-guest members of which there are likely many - the men's locker room was quite big. SO, anyone planning a stay at the Inn, does not need to worry about the lack of fitness machines - Of course, there are outdoor trails and walks that can be taken around the beautiful golf course. Dave
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[giradman]

After our time in the Sports Complex, we had a light lunch in the lobby, then wandered the wings and shops - much to see. Also decided to go through the wonderful underground spa tunnels. Pics of just some familiar areas during those wanderings. The Great Hall (or lobby) is beautiful with many period (or reproductions) of 'art deco' a la Frank Lloyd Wright inspiration. The great fireplaces are huge with multiple ton granite stones (especially those lintels); the andirons are about 5 ft. tall and each weighs 500 pounds (made in Asheville) - the lit fire shown in a few pics below is now gas powered w/ artificial logs (in my previous visits a long time back, 6 ft real logs were burned). The last pics show the covered spa area w/ the magnificent waterfall. Dave
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[scifan57]

How old is the original part of the hotel? The roof looks like it was designed to resemble a thatched roof.

 

[giradman]

How old is the original part of the hotel? The roof looks like it was designed to resemble a thatched roof.

Hi Scifan57.. the original structure made of native granite quarried on Sunset Mountain was started in 1912 and finished in July 1913 (same year that Winston and Salem merged to become my home town of Winston-Salem). The roofing is red clay tile which was replaced in 2000 (see quote below; more HERE); the first couple of pics show the 'old' tile, then its replacement - final image of the replaced tile - quite a job! Dave

Clay Tile Roof Replacement​

The Grove Park Inn's original red clay tile roof, one of the historic hotel's trademark features, was completely replaced in 2000 and quickly began to exhibit signs of failure. The cracked and loose tiles presented a falling hazard to hotel guests, and staining compromised the hotel's appearance. The owners of the Grove Park Inn needed experts in the fields of roofing and waterproofing to investigate the source of the stains, water leakage, and distress and to design a repair solution, all while minimizing disruptions to hotel operations.

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[giradman]

Sunset Terrace - Dinner Second Night

A dinner at the Sunset Terrace is a must - open air with the magnificent views of downtown Asheville and the mountains, especially at sunset. First pic below from the resort's website, second my panoramic view from our table. We shared the ahi tuna which had some 'heat' and a refreshing cucumber relish. Susan had the small filet mignon and I the Chilean sea bass w/ a baby bok choy and kimchi cabbage combination. For dessert, a shared apple crumble w/ a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Again, I'm mainly describing some of the eating options at the inn along with their menus for those who live near and may be planning a trip. Bon Appetite! Dave
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[giradman]

Thomas Wolfe - Asheville Native - Famous American Author

We've been to Asheville so many times over the decades and most of my posts have concentrated on the Biltmore Estate and other areas, such as Lake Lure. But this North Carolina mountain town has many more attractions to offer - I'll be adding some more posts on other visits to make while in the area. One is the Thomas Wolfe Memorial which is mainly a house/museum. Wolfe was a famous American novelist - Wiki Bio Intro Below (check link for much more). He grew up in the house which his mother rented to boarders - his famous book, Look Homeward Angel is autobiographical (his many other works shown below). He was short-lived (not reaching his 38th birthday), dying from tuberculosis. Highly recommended visit if in the area. Dave

Thomas Clayton Wolfe (October 3, 1900 – September 15, 1938) was an American novelist of the early 20th century.
Wolfe wrote four lengthy novels as well as many short stories, dramatic works, and novellas. He is known for mixing highly original, poetic, rhapsodic, and impressionistic prose with autobiographical writing. His books, written and published from the 1920s to the 1940s, vividly reflect on American culture and the mores of that period, filtered through Wolfe's sensitive, sophisticated, and hyper-analytical perspective.

After Wolfe's death, contemporary author William Faulkner said that Wolfe may have been the greatest talent of their generation for aiming higher than any other writer. Wolfe's influence extends to the writings of Beat Generation writer Jack Kerouac, and of authors Ray Bradbury and Philip Roth, among others. He remains an important writer in modern American literature, as one of the first masters of autobiographical fiction, and is considered North Carolina's most famous writer.

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[giradman]

Asheville - Beer City USA!

Craft beer breweries have taken over the city and are now approaching three dozen - for our half-day trip, we started w/ a light lunch at Bhramari Brewing Co. - first pics below w/ Susan waiting for her burger - we sampled 3 (half pints) of their products. As in the quote below, this brewery was in the South Slope district (see link there) and has about a dozen different beer makers - there are numerous links (LINK, LINK 2, LINK 3) providing information on the many establishments. Our second visit was to Wicked Weed Brewing - we took their free tour (about 30 mins) and sampled 3 delicious beers made there - also located in the South Slope. If you are into beer, then Asheville is certainly worth a visit if in the area, although I've had the Wicked Weed IPA on tap throughout North Carolina. Dave

NPR calls Asheville the "Napa Valley of Beer!" Our beer scene features an amazing selection of bars, brewpubs, micro craft breweries, and cideries. Sample hundreds of local brews from 50+ western North Carolina mountain breweries. Asheville, per capita, has one of the highest rates of craft brew consumption in the Southeast. Accolades include being named Beer City USA for four years in a row, Forbes Travel Guide 5 Beer Cities To Hit This Summer and CNN 8 Best Beer Towns in the USA. (Feature Photo: Green Man Brewery). Here are our top picks for beer in the Asheville area. Many are located downtown within walking distance of each other (see our South Slope Brewing District Walking Tour). Also see the best downtown Asheville wine bars and cocktails.

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[giradman]

Rivers Arts District

After our 'beer tour' we headed to southwest Asheville to the River Arts District for just our second visit (see quote and links) - the map shows the extent of this development in re-using old abandon industrial buildings near the French Broad River - there are now many dozens of artists working there in their studios - all sorts of arts and crafts are being done and on sale - a fascinating place to visit with a funky appearance in bringing back these buildings. Just a few web pics of several of the streets below - we entered at least a half dozen studios, a number having multiple artists represented. The rather bizarre, detailed, and amazing paintings of Daniel McClendon piqued my interest - however, the prices on the art works ranged from about $3000 to $12,000 USD - glad that Susan & I have already filled up our house w/ art over the decades, although the style is not to our taste (but a half dozen or so were marked as SOLD). Dave

The River Arts District in Asheville, North Carolina is an area of former industrial buildings located near the French Broad River, along Riverside Drive east of Interstate 240. Numerous artists have moved into the area and produce and display their works. It is the result of RiverLink's design to redevelop the urban riverfront corridor, built and expanded from the 1989 Asheville Riverfront Plan, which won the American Planning Association Award and represents the consolidation of over 20 years of community planning. (Source)

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[giradman]

The Lobster Trap Restaurant in Downtown Asheville

After our visit to the Arts District, we headed back to downtown for a shellfish dinner (probably our favorite) at The Lobster Trap (our first experience there) - we started with a dozen mixed oysters on the half shell from the northeast of the USA and Canada, then ordered the two-tiered 'Double Tower' w/ Maine lobster and two of the same oysters from out starter course - we've shared many shellfish towers in the past (e.g. Richmond, VA, Wrightsville Beach, NC and elsewhere) and felt that this one was of excellent quality - we would certainly return - recommended if you are into shellfish (link has the menu if in the vicinity!). Dave
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[giradman]

Zebulon Vance - North Carolina Native, Civil War Governor, US Senator, & Controversial Historic Figure

Zebulon Vance Birthplace, a State Historic Site, just a 20 min drive from our location - we made a visit many years ago (a black bear cross the road on our drive there - the mountain scenery is beautiful). Vance was a 19th century North Carolina politician, a soldier and a governor of the state during the Civil War - brief beginning bio quoted below, much more in the link. As expected, there are (were) many monuments and statues dedicated to him - the obelisk monument in downtown Asheville is being dismantled, story HERE; but there are others, such as the one below in Raleigh, the state capital - I'm sure as this Civil War controversy evolves about removal of Confederate monuments or other such dedications, those of Governor Vance may also disappear. But his birthplace site is worth a visit - pics below all from the web showing location just north of Asheville, a few from the historic site, the some monuments dedicated to him. Dave

Zebulon Baird Vance (May 13, 1830 – April 14, 1894) was a Confederate military officer in the American Civil War, the 37th and 43rd Governor of North Carolina, and U.S. Senator. A prolific writer, Vance became one of the most influential Southern leaders of the Civil War and postbellum periods. As a leader of the "New South", Vance favored the rapid modernization of the Southern economy, railroad expansion, school construction, and reconciliation with the North. (Source)

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[giradman]

North Carolina Arboretum - Part I

On our last full day, we decided to visit the North Carolina Arboretum and Riverside Cemetery - this and the next posts will be devoted to the Arboretum - short quote below of its history and development which is ongoing. We spent most of our time in the central area of the map, i.e. the formal gardens; throughout the walk sculptures of all sorts were exhibited w/ story panels about the artists, many were for sale. Pics below nearly all of my own - will continue w/ a Part II to include the many images taken. Dave

The North Carolina Arboretum (434 acres (176 ha)) is an arboretum and botanical garden located within the Bent Creek Experimental Forest of the Pisgah National Forest at 100 Frederick Law Olmsted Way, southwest of Asheville, North Carolina near the Blue Ridge Parkway. Although the idea for the arboretum stretches back to landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted in 1898, who wished to create an arboretum at the nearby Biltmore Estate, today's arboretum was established by the General Assembly in 1986, as a facility of the University of North Carolina. In 1989 the site was officially designated the North Carolina Arboretum. The arboretum is still under active development. It includes many hiking and bicycling trails, a bonsai collection, a holly garden, and a stream garden. Its tree collection includes a fine set of Metasequoias planted in 1950, and now said to be the tallest in the south (over 100 feet (30 m) in height). In 2016, a certification from Bee Campus USA recognized the arboretum's efforts to teach about and support pollinators. (Source)

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[giradman]

North Carolina Arboretum - Part II

The Quilt Garden was one of my favorite outdoor exhibits (click on the description pic to enlarge) - planted with a variety of flowers to make a quilted pattern - the florals change every two years, although the plantings are re-done seasonally (web pic of a previous 'garden quilt' below). Yet another of many sculptures w/ artist information. There is also a bonsai garden and exhibit of dozens of 'little trees'. We ended our visit with a light lunch (a delicious arugula goat cheese salad for me and a ham quiche + small salad for Susan) - definitely worth a visit! Dave

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