Grove Park Inn

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA ASHEVILLE

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COLLECTIONS BOOKS PERIODICALS MANUSCRIPTS PHOTOGRAPHS ORAL HISTORIES FILM, VIDEO, AUDIO & MUSIC REALIA & ARTIFACTS VERTICAL FILES CUR UNIV. ARCHIVES SR. PAPERS/ PROJECTS MLA HERITAGE OF WESTERN NC PARTNERSHIPS WEB EXHIBITS BLOWERS GALLERY LINKS ABOUT	The Grove Park Inn
	"Grove Park Inn, Asheville, NC",(lec146) D.H. Ramsey Library, Special Collections, UNCA 2002. One of the Southeast's most famous and enduring hotels, the Grove Park Inn has lured families and individuals to the Asheville area since its opening in 1913. Construction on this massive structure took only 11 months and 27 days and consisted of a 400 man crew who, working in shifts, would often pour concrete and sett boulder 24 hours a day. Upon completion the Grove Park Inn was billed as the "finest resort hotel in the world" and boasted the finest in luxury amenities, including, bed linens of Imported Oxford twill, furniture and light fixtures handcrafted by Roycrofters, complete artificial refrigeration (a rarity at the time), fresh mountain water piped in 17 miles from Mount Mitchell, and a lobby or "Big Room" complete with two great fireplaces and with a capacity to hold 1000. Hit hard by the war effort in World War II, the resort was considered for demolition until in 1955 Dallas businessman Charles Sammons purchased and began restoration on and addition to the original structure. Still today, the Grove Park Inn remains a top resort destination in the Southeast and one of Asheville's most famous landmarks.
UNC Asheville Special Collections contains numerous collections that explore the history, construction, and importance of this memorable structure. Below, you will find reference links to booklets, pamphlets, photographs, postcards, letters, and external sources that highlight key events and history of the Grove Park Inn.
Virtual References
	Grove Park Inn floor plan A 1913 brochure prepared and issued by the hotel which outlines the layout, amenities, and allure of the hotel. [William S. Kenney, Manager, Formerly of Mount Washington Hotel, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire].
	Souvenir folder of Grove Park Inn postcards Small 12 card folio of the Grove Park Inn and vicinity. Produced by the Asheville Postcard Company for the travel and tourism industry in the mid to late 1920's.
	In collaboration with the Grove Park Inn, Special Collections offers a virtual tour of the Grove Park Inn Photographic Collection 1913-1930. This collection contains over 350 photographs of the construction and completion of the Grove Park Inn and Grovewood galleries.
	Grove Park Inn - "In the Land of the Sky" An 18 page pictorial guide to the Inn and to the region's scenic locations. Prepared for tourism and travel probably after 1917.
	"Grove Park Inn Finest Resort Hotel In the World" [Brochure]. A 15 page promotional brochure for the Grove Park Inn prepared by Fred Loring Seely and containing information about the Inn, its context, the city of Asheville and other related information about western North Carolina.
	Lamar Campbell Le Compte postcard collection. The collection contains over 400 color postcards and postcard folders of Western North Carolina and the Southern States. From among the collection, Le Compte features a Grove Park Inn series (postcards 144-160) that highlight the resort before its later wing and spa additions.
	Fred L. Seely Grove Park Inn letters. Thirteen letters of correspondence to and from Fred L. Seely and interested parties regarding the development and management of the Grove Park Inn. Correspondence covers the construction year between 1912 and 1913 and is useful in building a history up to and beyond the opening of the Inn. The letters also provide context for a better understanding of F. L. Seely and his relationship to the Grove Park Inn as its primary designer.
	Fred L. Seely Jr. Oral History. A 1983 interview of the late Fred L. Seely Jr., youngest son of the principal architect/designer behind the Grove Park Inn. Discussion contains a wealth of information regarding the Grove/Seely family history, the construction of the Inn, and the Inn's role for the internment of Axis diplomatic personnel during World War II. Transcript available in PDF format: Fred L. Seely Jr. Interview Transcript
	E.M. Ball Grove Park Inn Photograph Collection. Photographs of the Grove Park Inn and surrounding buildings taken by E.M. Ball between 1918 and 1969.
External Links
	Grove Park Inn Official Website. The official Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa website.
	National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary for the Grove Park Inn. Page created and maintained by the National Park Service which gives a cursory introduction and history behind the Inn.
	Grovewood Gallery Official Website. Located next to the Grove Park Inn on the site of the old Biltmore Industries, Grovewood Gallery features a large selection of American handmade crafts from artisans across the country. Also featured on the grounds are the NC Homespun Museum, the Estes-Winn Antique Car Museum, Grovewood Studios and the Grovewood Cafe.