Conceirge Collection Report- Grove Park Inn

[WebmasterDoc]

The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa is a luxurious place. It opened in 1913 and boasts a photo display of Presidents (8), sports figures and other assorted celebrities who have enjoyed the facility in the ensuing years.

The resort has 510 rooms, a subterranean spa facility, athletic center, 18 hole golf course, 3 restaurants (one, Horizons, is similar in style, menu and price to Victoria and Albert's) and loads of charm. The resort is located on Sunset Mountain in Asheville, NC and faces west- offering spectacular views at sunset. All of the restaurants offer a panoramic look at the mountains, with Asheville in the foreground.

After a disappointing check-in (Yes, I realize that check-in is AFTER 4PM), which was finally resolved by a very embarrassed resort manager with an upgraded room (and a chilled bottle of champagne) at 5:30PM. We are in a corner room with a view of the spa area, golf course and the mountains. The resort staff is very accustomed to providing their guests with a high level of service...and they attract guests who expect/demand the same.

Phone charges are $1 for local calls ( .15/minute after the 1st 30 minutes), 1-800 calls are free for the 1st 30 minutes (.15/minute after). There is a nice room service menu and complimentary turn-down service is available.

The resort is beautiful and, IMHO, a deserved member of the DVC Concierge Collection.

 

[Pluto4President]

Thanks for the report Doc. Embarassed mgr huh???

 

[Luv2Dream]

Oh, I wholeheartedly agree with the inclusion of the Grove Park Inn as part of the Concierge Collection. We had the pleasure of staying there in 1996 and we stayed in a room that was occupied previously by Dan Ackroyd (there are plaques outside the rooms). The area is so beautiful and the white water rafting is GREAT! I give it a two thumbs up!

 

[wdwnut]

thanks for the report Doc. Luv2Dream- i have some teens and a dh that love whitewater rafting-was this close by the resort? thanks.

 

[Beth]

wdwnut.

I think the closest you're gonna find to Asheville is the French Broad River. You can do a search, but here's one of the rafting company's:

www.frenchbroadrafting.com

We've not done this river. I don't know how "experienced" your teens are - but I would suspect this river would not require much...

Chimney Rock is also a nice drive from the Grove Park Inn. We thoroughly enjoyed hiking up through the trails. Make sure you watch the movie "Last of the Mohicans" before you go, though, as most of the scenes from the end of the movie were filmed up there. You can still see where some of the spots were.

There's also, of course, the Biltmore Resort there in Asheville, which we really enjoyed touring!

When we stayed at the Grove Park Inn, they were just "building" the "subterranean spa" facility. It was a GREAT disappointment to us, as the entire area in the center of the resort was a huge excavation site, with a giant crane right outside of our window. We were very disappointed that MS gave us no warning of the condition of the resort - all they said was that the "exercise facilities were under renovation." We were offered no apologies, and it was the only time we were truly dissatisfied with the service from MS.

All in all, I'm sure it is a beautiful resort, but it left a very sour taste in our mouth's, and we won't be back....

 

[sweetp0618]

Doc--glad to hear you love it! We're spending 5 days at the Grove Park Inn this year for Christmas (using points). We'll be eating at Grove Park on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and at the Inn at Biltmore on Dec. 26 to celebrate our anniversary. Has anyone eaten at Grove Park and can tell us how the food is at the various restaurants? How about off-site restaurants? We are going to "do" the Biltmore House the day after Christmas, including the afternoon carriage ride and evening candlelight tour.

Is there an indoor swimming pool in addition to the one in the spa? Has anyone played golf? Anything special we should do at the Inn or in the surrounding area? Does anyone know about children's activities?

Any help you can give me is greatly appreciated.

Patti
sweetp0618

 

[WebmasterDoc]

We ate at the Blue Ridge Grill and Chops- Sunset Terrace, both at the Inn. They were very nice. Sunset Terrace is outdoors, but has huge radiant heaters mounted overhead, so the temperature was comfy last night for dining. Horizons offers a fixed price, 5 course meal. Prices begin at about $60 per person and there is a dress code (men MUST wear jacket and tie).

I beleive there is an indoor pool at the sports complex, besides the spa pool. Grove Park offers it's own Christmas programs right at the resort- so be sure to check those out also. They have a website at www.groveparkinn.com .

Enjoy!

 

[canda]

There are much better rivers to raft down than the FBR. you would just have to drive to get there. 45 min away is the Nantahala. A fun family class river. (class 2 with one 3) The water temp is only 45 degrees in the summer, but that is part of the fun. You can also take the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad to raft and ride. For a bigger trill drive into Tenn. to the Ocoee. That one is a roller coaster. The Nolachucky (mispelled) is pretty fun too. The Grove Park Inn is said to be haunted by the "Pink Lady". She was "pushed" of her balcony in the 1920's and is said to still be roaming the halls in her pink nightgown. I forget which room that she stayed in but just ask for the pink ladys's room. (if you dare) Or ask staff people and they will tell you stories of her. It is all in fun, but some of the staff really believe.

 

[tiffany123]

Thanks for the great review Doc. We love reading non Disney resort reviews and usually disagree with others that it's a waste of points. WDW is great but there are many other great places to see and visit thoughout the US.

 

[nickglover]

Thanks for all the info - we plan to stay there in 2002 or 2003 and also to drive up the Blue Ridge Parkway and stay north of there. We will probably fly into Ashville from Tampa and rent a car. I appreciate all the info.

 

[Denine]

We stayed here for a few days in July 2000. While we enjoyed the area and hiking, the resort itself was boring. The food was good at the restuarant, but the place pretty much shut down after dinner. The indoor pool at the sports complex was very small and crowded. The outdoor pool was closed. The spa was under construction.
We won't be back.

 

[Luv2Dream]

As I remember, it was the Nantahala that we saw the rafting on and it looked really fun. I went rafting on my trip but it was with a "convention" group so I can't remember the name of the river although it might have been the French Broad. I also enjoyed biking around the resort, exploring the town of Asheville, driving to the Smoky Mountains, just kicking back and relaxing. It is certainly not "action-packed" but that wasn't what I was looking for at the time. I remember that the restaurants had great food. We really enjoyed it.

 

[LISA4]

The Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa is a luxurious place. It opened in 1913 and boasts a photo display of Presidents (8), sports figures and other assorted celebrities who have enjoyed the facility in the ensuing years.

The resort has 510 rooms, a subterranean spa facility, athletic center, 18 hole golf course, 3 restaurants (one, Horizons, is similar in style, menu and price to Victoria and Albert's) and loads of charm. The resort is located on Sunset Mountain in Asheville, NC and faces west- offering spectacular views at sunset. All of the restaurants offer a panoramic look at the mountains, with Asheville in the foreground.

After a disappointing check-in (Yes, I realize that check-in is AFTER 4PM), which was finally resolved by a very embarrassed resort manager with an upgraded room (and a chilled bottle of champagne) at 5:30PM. We are in a corner room with a view of the spa area, golf course and the mountains. The resort staff is very accustomed to providing their guests with a high level of service...and they attract guests who expect/demand the same.

Phone charges are $1 for local calls ( .15/minute after the 1st 30 minutes), 1-800 calls are free for the 1st 30 minutes (.15/minute after). There is a nice room service menu and complimentary turn-down service is available.

The resort is beautiful and, IMHO, a deserved member of the DVC Concierge Collection.

Can you check in early? Are flight gets in a little after twelve. We don't need are room right away.

lisa

 

[JimMIA]

Can I get FREE DDP staying at the Grove Park Inn???

*****
Another vote for the Nantahala River rafting. It's a great, fun river for novices (my group). Not too long, not too short, not too hard.

But pay attention to the instructions before the last rapid (which is actually a small waterfall to me)!

 

[DisDaydreamer]

Hi Doc, We stayed there a few years ago. It is an awsome place. The weather was wet and chilly during our 3 day stay, so we really want to go back one summer. Did you all visit the Biltmore Estate? Hard to fathom how someone can have that much money.

EDIT: Oh good lord.... I just realized this thread is 6 years old!

 

[Dman67]

May I ask how many points it cost you to stay there? Just curious!

 

[JimMIA]

EDIT: Oh good lord.... I just realized this thread is 6 years old!

HA! At least you noticed! I sure didn't...

I guess Doc's posts are timeless!

 

[WebmasterDoc]

LOL! That was awhile ago!

We went to Grove Park on our way to an exchange at Lake Lure, NC. Great getaway - but 3 weeks later I had a heart attack and ended up with another little "vacation" in the hospital.

Grove Park is wonderful. Great resort, Great Spa and they really do try to meet guest expectations.

When we arrived, they tried to give us a smoking room - which we refused. Their computer system was down that day amd they had no way to check reservations or occupancy - so they had about 100 guests milling around the lobby from 3pm until into the evening. They tried placating everyine with an open bar, but even that novelty wore off after an hour or two.

The manager finally called us over an escorted us to "our" room, only to find it already occupied. I'm glad the manager was the one to walk into the room as one of the occupants emerged from the shower.

After a trip back to the desk, the embarrassed manager did escort us to a delightful corner suite - complete with the champagne.

We had reserved a Mountain View room for a Friday night - 38 points for the evening and we felt it was a bargain after all was said and done.

The Biltmore Estate is well worth the trip. The opulence is really fun to see. We have also visited the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA - a great comparable experience. I'd highly recommend either or both!

Maybe this thread will resurface in another 5 1/2 years!

 

[Tarheel Tink]

Another vote for the Nantahala River rafting. It's a great, fun river for novices (my group). Not too long, not too short, not too hard.

But pay attention to the instructions before the last rapid (which is actually a small waterfall to me)![/QUOTE]


Yes! We were the last raft to do the rapid and we watched every raft flip over before us. Our guide had us go into the rapid backwards and turn during it and we made it through. We then found out this was our guide's first time on the Nantahala! She normally guides on the "Deliverance" river (I forget it's name at the moment). Had a fantastic time and really recommend it.