| Grove Park Inn Brochure |
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[Cover] "Grove Park Inn, Finest
Resort in the World, Sunset Mountain, Asheville, N.C. Absolutely
Fireproof. Open all the Year. The Altitude Makes it Cool in
Summer." [Note at bottom of cover]: "We do not entertain
conventions. We have found that they disturb the homelike atmosphere of
the Inn and interfere with the comfort of guests." |
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page 1 |
Asheville in Summer There is probably no
place in the world where the climate is finer in the summer and fall
than in Asheville.
It is seldom one can sleep without a blanket, and there are no
mosquitoes.
We show herewith the summer temperature as given by the United States
Weather Bureau. Please note that we give the temperature at the warmest
hour of the day, 3 p.m.
Typical Mean Temperature for One Year
|
Month |
Maxi-munv |
Minimum |
Monthly |
Total Rain |
Number of Hours Sunshine |
|
January . |
44.8 |
29.2 |
37.0 |
3.41 |
136 7 |
|
February March .... |
49.2 45.2 |
31.3 28.5 |
40.2 36.8 |
2.78 2.00 |
176.9 200.9 |
| April
..... |
68.8 |
44.1 |
56.4 |
1 09 |
268 0 |
| May
...... |
73.9 |
53.8 |
63.8 |
4.53 |
279 9 |
| June |
77.1 |
58.0 |
67.6 |
4.74 |
269 8 |
| July
. |
82.6 |
61.5 |
72.0 |
2.78 |
287 8 |
|
August ... |
79.5 |
61.3 |
70.4 |
4.26 |
227 2 |
|
September October .. November December |
78.0
68.5 59.0 46.5 |
56.9
48.2 38.0 28.8 |
67.4
58.4 48.5 37.6 |
4.09
3.33 2.20 5.01 |
243.0
191.5 203.6 162.6 |
| Year
. |
64.4 |
45.0 |
54.7 |
40.22 |
2647.9 |
Average temperature for Asheviile for the three summer months for the
past six years, United States Weather Bureau .-
1914-June 73.1
July
72.3
August 72.2
1915-June 67.6
July
72
August 70
1916- June 67.8
July
72.2
August
72.6
1917-June 67.5
July
72.0
August
70.3
1918-June 69.6
July
68.9
August
72.8
1919-June 70.3
July
73.2
August
71.1
Never a Mosquito. Special Summer and Fall Rates. |
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Grove Park Inn is the Finest Resort Hotel in
the World. It is operated the year round. It is absolutely fireproof —
built of the great boulders of Sunset Mountain, at the foot of which it
sits.
It was built by hand in the old-fashioned way—full of rest, comfort
and wholesomeness. The front lawn is the hundred and twenty acre
eighteen-hole golf links of the Asheville Country Club, and with it
sixty acres of lawn and a thousand acres of • woods and mountain
belonging to the hotel.
From the porches of the Inn one looks across the golf links upon an
inspiring vista of mountain scenery—lofty peaks fading away in the
distance—the most entrancing region and the most delightful climate to
be found in America.
Water :—All the water used at Grove Park Inn is piped seventeen miles
from the slopes of Mount Mitchell, nearly 7000 feet altitude, and
without question is unexcelled for its purity.
One of the two great fireplaces in the Lobby. |
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The watershed from which it comes is the
highest mountain east of the Rockies. Food:—The kitchen of Grove Park
Inn is not excelled in the finest hotels in this country or Europe. Its
walls are of white glazed tile—the floors white ceramic tile. All dishes
are boiled after each using, even the silver and drinking glasses are
boiled.
Ice:—All refrigeration is artificial— ice not used.
Plumbing:—The plumbing material is the finest that has ever been
placed in any hotel in the world. The soil pipe was hydraulically tested
and then galvanized. The hot water pipe, 18,000 pounds in weight, is
solid brass. The steam pipes are of flyers' genuine lap-welded wrought
iron, tested hydraulic-ally to 1000 pounds. The bath tubs and fixtures
are all solid porcelain, made to our order by
500 feet of Porches around Inn |
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Haines, Jones, & Cadbury, of Philadelphia,
the oldest plumbing manufacturers in the United States. Even the
lighting fixtures in the bath rooms are porcelain. The toilet seats are
celluloid. No pipes are visible anywhere. No radiators to be seen—all
placed in recesses under windows. Lighting:—No electric bulbs visible.
All lighting indirect. Every window a casement window (like two doors)
opening from top to bottom—double the ventilation of the regular
windows.
Furnishings:—Seven hundred pieces of furniture and over 600 lighting
fixtures of solid copper were made by hand by the Roycrofters, at East
Aurora.
Heating:—The steam heating is a vacuum system, absolutely noiseless,
and as the radiators are hidden under the windows in the sills, there is
no annoyance from this usually objectionable feature of an hotel.
View of the great Lobby, called the "Big Room.' |
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The cleaning is done with Hoover Vacuum
Cleaners. Beds:—Not a double bed in the Inn. Double rooms have two
three-quarter beds and single rooms one. The beds are six feet four
inches long and are the finest and most comfortable money could produce.
The bed linens are of Imported Oxford twill. The pillows are of pure
down. The springs are of the best double "box" type, upholstered with
heavy pads on top, and the mattresses are the Sealy tuftless "De Luxe,"
not excelled if equaled by any mattress on the market today. Spreads,
curtains, pillow mantles, scarfs, etc.,are of the finest quality, pure
brown linen. All are hemstitched, and every piece of linen (there are
over 12,000 in number) bears a hand-sewed name tape, but no ink
markings.
We maintain quiet in the bedrooms and corridors after 10:30 p. m.,
and in the morning until 9 o'clock.
One of the curses of the ordinary hotel is the lack of consideration
for guests who need rest or care to retire before midnight. A few people
who prefer to retire late ill thoughtlessly disturb hundreds who |
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desire rest, by loud talking, slamming of
doors, throwing shoes on the floor, and a dozen other annoyances; and
then by 6.30 in the morning the hotel help usually begins its war on
sleep by beginning to clean corridors, slop closets and any place that
will produce noise. At Grove Park Inn it is different. The ceiling of
the "Big Room" is over one foot thick, of solid concrete. The ceilings
of the bowling alley and billiard rooms are the same. All of our
amusement rooms were built so that guests could enjoy themselves until
any hour practically without restraint and without the noise penetrating
to the sleeping rooms. On the other hand, we consider that our bedrooms
are for rest after a reasonable hour, and we have the courage to enforce
a discipline that makes rest possible. Our employees wear rubber heels,
and maids are provided comfortable chairs in their respective corridors,
where they report for service at 8 o'clock, but they sit and read until
9 a. m., merely being where guests can call them if they need them.
View of one of the Dining Rooms. |
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page 7-8 |
Homespun Shops, home of hand-weaving industry.
Text under image reads: "The Homespun Shops in
the grounds at Grove Park Inn. This is by far the largest hand-weaving
industry in the world. It is owned by Mr. Seely, who built and operates
Grove Park Inn. Be sure to visit the Shops when you are at the Inn. They
are very interesting and you will be shown through by a guide." |
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Biltmore Forest Country Club on the famous
Biltmore Estates. Links and Club House completed 1922 at an outlay of
nearly half-million dollars.
The last word in Donald Ross' skill.
We have been gratified with the reception the public has given such a
system, and have found that we were right in our belief that persons who
were not in sympathy with so reasonable a system were not desirable
patrons for a place like Grove Park Inn. Every opportunity is afforded
at Grove Park Inn for a good time. Dancing late, bowling, music, and
every reasonable amusement; but we insist also on every opportunity for
guests to rest if they wish to.
Lobby:—The "Big Room," or lobby, of Grove Park Inn is one of the most
wonderful rooms in the world. It is 120 feet long by 80 feet wide, and
can comfortably entertain 1000 people. The two great fireplaces in it
burn eight-foot logs, and each required 120 tons of boulders to build.
This great room is built up of the most unique collection of native
boulders, flint and mica, and at nights is illuminated by indirect
lights which are |
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reflected against the ceiling. The lights in
this room alone give over 12,000 candle-power of illumination. In this
room is the world's finest Orchestral Organ. It is the life's
masterpiece of Ernest M. Skinner, of Boston, who is called the Steinway
of organ builders. A fuller description is given on the last page of
this booklet.
The acoustics of this room are perfect, the great heavy tones of the
organ being no clearer than the faint little waves of the " celeste "
notes.
" Backlogs " for the fireplaces are two feet in diameter and it takes
ten men to place one on the andirons. The four great andirons weigh 500
pounds apiece, and an average of twenty-four days' blacksmith work was
done on each of them.
Grove Park Inn is located on the side of Sunset Mountain, about a
mile from the top, and is not only cool enough in the summer to make a
blanket necessary at night, but is protected and mild enough in winter
to make life enjoyable without enervation. |
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The climate of Asheville is wholesome and
invigorating. Thronged in winter by those who wish to escape the extreme
cold of the North without, however, losing entirely the favorable
effects of a bracing atmosphere, it is sought also in summer for its
cool, salubrious climate by visitors from the warmer, humid regions in
the South Atlantic, Middle, Gulf and Eastern States. The altitude
forbids humidity and heat even on the warmest summer days. There are no
mosquitoes. The buildings of the Inn, nearly 500 feet in length, are
of solid granite, the outside of the walls being of massive boulders,
some of which weigh from three to five tons. The men worked under
instructions that when the Inn was finished not a piece of stone should
be visible to the eye except it show the time-eaten face given to it by
the thousands of years of sun and rain that had beaten upon it as it had
lain on the mountain side. These great boulders were laid with the
lichens and moss on them just as they were found.
Five hundred feet of porches, nearly all of which face 180 acres of
golf links and lawn.
In one section of the building there are sixty-four guest rooms,
every one a double room and every one with private bath. Three other
sections are in suites of rooms with baths. All bedrooms connect and all
walls between rooms are double fireproof walls with air spaces between.
They are nearly sound-proof.
The corridors are very wide, in order to give an abundance of room
and ventilation. The walls between the corridors and bedrooms are double
tile partitions, nearly one and one-half feet thick, through which it is
practically impossible to hear noises outside.
Suites of rooms arranged with any degree of elegance the guests may
require.
The court occupying the center of the main building extends to the
roof and is capped with an enormous skylight which admits an ocean of
sunlight. The effect is a most delightful sun-parlor to be enjoyed on
cool days, as well as a sitting-room for evenings.
No hotel in the world has ever been built with the care and |
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of the quality of this Inn. Massive rustic
walls, four and one-half feet thick, of boulders backed with solid
granite and Portland, cement. Concrete floors and roofs. The roofs of
the Inn form an excellent illustration of its massiveness and the care
in construction. First there was poured a roof five inches thick of
Portland cement concrete, reinforced with 90,000 pounds of steel rods.
On this was laid five layers of Trinidad Asphalt interposed between
three layers of asbestos felt. On this fifteen carloads of fireproof
tile, held on with one and one-half tons of coppered steel nails and
twenty tons of Tucker's fireproof roof cement. Grove Park Inn is an
unique structure, built on an entirely different plan from the average
resort hotel. It is designed on plain and solid lines and is constructed
for safety, comfort and utility. The Hotel is thoroughly sanitary and
all attempt at the bizarre, the tawdry and flashily foolish has been
omitted. The furnishings and equipment were installed with the same idea
in view. The idea was to build a big home where every modern convenience
could be had, but with all the old-fashioned qualities of genuineness
with no sham. Things made by Nature, assisted by artists, carry
sentiment. The product of the head, heart and hand is a thing to be
loved and we wish you to think of this Inn as your resort home and not
as a transient hotel.
Persons with any sort of tubercular trouble will not be received at
the Inn.
Wines and Liquors: — It is unlawful for the management to provide or
sell liquors to guests of this hotel. Mineral and table waters,
lemonades and soft drinks can be ordered and served at the table, in the
grill, bedrooms or anywhere else in the hotel. |
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page 13 |
Homespun and Wood-Carving A very
interesting feature in connection with the Inn is the Biltmore
Industries, purchased from Mrs. Ceo. W. Vanderbilt by Mr. Seely, who
built and operates the Inn.
Biltmore Industries had their beginning in the year 1901, in an
industrial school started in Biltmore Village by Mrs. Vanderbilt.
The enterprise so far outgrew its early surroundings that in 1917
Mrs. Vanderbilt sold it in its entirety to Mr. Seely.
Unique Old English shop buildings have been built on the grounds of
the Inn, and the Industries, with all their workers, moved into them.
The same workers are employed, and the products are being made as
they have been for over twenty years.
Every piece of Biltmore Homespun is hand-woven and guaranteed to
contain absolutely nothing but wool. The colors are guaranteed, and it
is guaranteed not to shrink.
All hand-carved woodwork is guaranteed, and any pieces not perfect
will be replaced or money refunded.
We manufacture about two hundred patterns and colors in homespun, and
over two hundred different articles in hand-carved woodwork.
We are glad to mail samples of homespun on request, and catalog of
wood-carving or even samples of woodwork for inspection if desired.
Two gold and one silver medals have been awarded the Industries. |
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page 14 |
From "Golf" Magazine To describe the
beauties of the Asheville course is hopeless. It is located on a bit of
plateau, near the city and somewhat above it. On one side is the base of
Sunset Mountain, and on another the City of Asheville. And encircling it
on every side is range on range of hills. Yon will have to imagine the
surroundings from that—or, better still, come and see it. It will repay
you.
The course itself is well conceived and well executed. Its length is
5,754 yards, bnt it seems longer. This is because so many of the holes
are on sharply rolling ground. Yet none of them require the
mountain-climbing play that is needful in many a resort in the hills.
Totals —Out distance 2,834 yards, bogey 35. In distance 2,920 yards,
bogey 36.
Students of golf courses will not be long in observing that the
Asheville course was designed for pleasure and not as a critical test of
golf. However, that is quite as it should be. Asheville is a resort.
People play the course for pleasure, and they are not particularly
anxious to work themselves to the limit of strength and endurance. Many
of the distances are excellent. The second, sixth, eighth and
seventeenth are four as fine pitch holes as one would care to see. The
third is a magnificent sweep, down hill and up again, to a picturesque
and excellently located green.
The course is well supplied with hazards, ditches, streams, sunken
roads and the like, along with a moderate admixture of traps and
bunkers. It has no "goat-getters," requires no superhuman drives, bnt
furnishes enough trouble to put a premium on first-class golf. One
beauty of the course is that the first, ninth, sixteenth, seventeenth
and eighteenth holes are within a short distance of the club house and
much of the rest of the round is in sight of the club verandas.
The turf of the course is excellent and the putting greens
surprisingly good. To those accustomed to the Bermuda grass putting
greens of "Dixie" the Asheville greens are a revelation. Bermuda greens
are true but extremely "slow." The Asheville greens are covered with a
grass absolutely without resistance to the progress of the ball, and in
consequence are "keen" to a degree. They are well kept and always true.
It is doubtful if there is a resort course in the South where the turf
is any better. |
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Our New Organ It is with no
little pride that we are able to state we have installed at Grove Park
Inn the masterpiece of the greatest organ builder the world has ever
produced.
Mr. Ernest M. Skinner of Boston, who is called the Steinway of organ
builders, has built for us the masterpiece of his life's work up to the
present time.
In giving Mr. Skinner the contract for this organ, he was directed to
build into it every tone and every device that could legitimately go
into a strictly orchestral concert organ, and we are proud of the fact
that the result has been an instrument which we do not believe is
equalled in the entire world.
There are two stops in this organ which have never been used in any
other organ. There is one stop which has only two duplicates; and this
is the third organ he has built where the piano is played by the
organist from the keyboard. It may be noticed that this organ differs
from so-called pipe organs and church organs in that it is strictly
orchestral in practically all of its qualities.
There are six departments or organs, three in the north end of the
room, two including the solo and orchestral organs in the south end, and
the echo organ in the hallway of the next building to the south. There
are included in this organ the Cathedral Chimes.
It required over sixty miles of wire for the electrical work. It
requires a fifteen horse power motor to blow it and there are in the
neighborhood of seven thousand pipes. It required three freight cars to
bring it from the factory and four months to install it.
Mr. Skinner has built the most superb organs in existence, such
organs as in the College of the City of New York, Cathedral of St. John
the Divine, and others equally famous.
F. L. S. |
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