Travel Photography - "The Grove Park Inn"
The Grove Park Inn first opened its doors in 1913 and was built by Edwin Wiley Grove, a pharmacist who became one of the South’s leading entrepreneurs and business tycoons.
In 1885, Dr. Grove created the “Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic,” which transformed him from a small-town shop owner to an industry leader. Containing quinine, Dr. Grove marketed the tonic as a preventative and cure for malaria as well as calling it a 'cure all' for many other illnesses such as colds, fever. Sales of his tonic were further boosted by the British Army who made Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic standard issue for all troops stationed in the tropics.
Dr. Grove visited Asheville, NC and immediately fell in love with the area (as many people do). He decided to use his wealth to create the Grove Park Inn.
The Inn has remained in continuous operation since the Grove first opened. Some of the notable guests at the Grove have been: George Gershwin, Harry Houdini, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and ten presidents have stayed at the hotel: Calvin Coolidge, Woodrow Wilson, William Howard Taft, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Herbert Hoover, Dwight Eisenhower, Richard Nixon, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.
The approach to the hotel does have a certain 'feel' to it. You naturally wonder if it is haunted. As it turns out it is! Guests and employees have named her The Pink Lady. The story is that she was once a resident and mysteriously jumped off her balcony (room 545) in the 1920's.
The Pink Lady (given the name because she is always surrounded by a glowing pink light) is apparently very active in the hotel. She is often seen roaming the hallways and all over the hotel. Employees describe her as very kind and particularly fond of children who she prefers revealing herself to over adults.
A particularly fun event at the Grove Park Inn is the yearly Gingerbread Competition.
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
It all began with a small group of gingerbread houses built by community members in 1992 as another way to celebrate the holiday season with no plans to continue the following year. There was no possible way to know that more than two decades later The Omni Grove Park Inn National Gingerbread House Competition™ would be one of the nation's most celebrated and competitive holiday events.
As the event grew, so did the caliber of judges and competitors. Our panel of judges represents nationally renowned food, arts, and media professionals and the level of competition has attracted the highest quality of design, artistry and pastry expertise. The competition has merited broadcast coverage by ABC's Good Morning America, the Travel Channel, and the Food Network.
The gingerbread display has grown in more than just entries; it has become a true family holiday tradition. From the very young to the very young at heart, the reaction to this magical experience is the same - one of wonder, awe and delight.
https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/asheville-grove-park/things-to-do/upcoming-events/national-gingerbread-competition
| Category | (travel photography ) |
| Camera | (Nikon D70) |
| Location | (Asheville, NC ) |
These contests are curated and sponsored by @juliank and @photocontests
Monday: foodphotography and animalphotography
Tuesday: landscapephotography and cityscapephotography
Wednesday: architecturalphotography and vehiclephotography
Thursday: macrophotography and colourfulphotography
Friday: streetphotography and travelphotography
Saturday: sportsphotography and smartphonephotography
Sunday: goldenhourphotography and longexposurephotography
That gingerbread looks good, I don't know if I want to encounter the pink lady though. Perhaps it's best visited during daylight hours.
Wow what an interesting story and place. I love old places. I made a ginger bread house but out of chocolate once, kit kats to be exact lol, it was super tasty :)
LOL I bet that was a good gingerbread house. I think everyone loves gingerbread houses! Making them and eating them :)
I love old places, too - and I love 'traditions' that people have and history....human stories.
It was a chocolate overkill, but tasty :)
:) Well, we have to indulge every once in a while
Congratulations! This post has been upvoted from the communal account, @minnowsupport, by youhavewings from the Minnow Support Project. It's a witness project run by aggroed, ausbitbank, teamsteem, theprophet0, someguy123, neoxian, followbtcnews, and netuoso. The goal is to help Steemit grow by supporting Minnows. Please find us at the Peace, Abundance, and Liberty Network (PALnet) Discord Channel. It's a completely public and open space to all members of the Steemit community who voluntarily choose to be there.
If you would like to delegate to the Minnow Support Project you can do so by clicking on the following links: 50SP, 100SP, 250SP, 500SP, 1000SP, 5000SP.
Be sure to leave at least 50SP undelegated on your account.
You totally sold me on the gingerbread competition!! :) Funny though, I was unsure what COUNTRY you were in at first... had to scroll down to check. :) #globalgirlproblems :)
I can see why you would think this was European or other :) Built at the turn of last century when 'unique' and craftmanship meant something. Crazy the amount of stone that went into this. I should have included it. The competition just started in 2013 and it just skyrocketed instantly and I don't think it's going to end anytime soon. Really AMAZING entries from all over the country and world.
Looks like it would be a fun place to visit, I wonder how often room 545 is rented? And underground and secret passages? Do they let you explore the passages?
I am sure that room 545 is rented a lot! She's a sweet ghost. :)
My mother was in a wheelchair the last time we went and the staff took her through the secret passages and underground tunnels to get to the other side quicker. She was with my husband and I was with my kids so I didn't get to experience it but I heard it was pretty cool. We usually go have a smoothie in the underground grotto and you can see cave hallways with all the different spa services. There is also a waterfall mineral pool in the center underground - you can kind of see it peeking out from the first two pictures. It's a really interesting and fun place and also very scenic.
It really does sound like a great place to go visit and stay at.
I'm going to NC this summer. Maybe I'll take a side trip. Thank you!
Hi Moses! I don't know if you will be traveling for fun or business, but I think you will love it. Bring your camera and take lots of photos, travel the Blue Ridge Parkway - it will take your breath away. So many small enchanting little towns and the people are wonderful. Most of my photos are all from trips across NC - lots to see and experience. Enjoy!
A little of both. Looking forward to sharing with the Steemit community.
I sure hope you do! I would love to see NC through your lens.
this is the first time i heard of this place. thanks for this and nice shots by the way
I'm now reading more about this place! I'd never heard of it myself! It looks like a pretty secluded and serene place to be!!!
It really is...the whole area is amazing. The hotel has underground mineral pools and spas, cafe ;) Super charming during the holidays with the gingerbread competition. Service is exceptional. Hotel is filled with all sorts for interesting features including secret passage ways, too :) And the view is amazing.
Underground secret passages pretty interesting indeed!! I'm sure it's expensive to stay there!!!
We haven't stayed there 'yet' :) We usually just go every year to the Gingerbread Competition and go have a smoothie in the underground grotto. You can actually see parts of the underground peeking out in the first two photos. It really is a unique hotel steeped with history. We usually stay with a friend while there and this and the 'Chocolate Lounge' have become our yearly tradition. On Fridays, the whole downtown brings their djembe drums and everyone does drumming together - young/old alike and every lifestyle. The local motto in Asheville is "Keep Asheville Weird" - It's worth a trip whether or not you stay at the hotel or rent a cabin up in the mountains that surround it. Most people usually find deals for staying at the hotel though - coupons, special offers which they are always offering.