Grove Park Inn: Lifestyle & History
One of the most celebrated Asheville neighborhoods, Grove Park, is an incredible blend of storybook charm and posh luxury. Mature tree-lined streets, immaculate stonework, and terraced lots cast historic homes in amazing light. A quick look at data points for the area reveals that an entry point for a Grove Park lot is typically over $300,000, not to mention the median home prices that easily land over $1 million, with prices over $2 million not uncommon. Learn more about the North Asheville market trends in our forecast article. Geographically, Grove Park neighbors the UNC Asheville campus to the east and sits south of Lakeview Park, and Beaver Lake.
The Grove Park Neighborhood Association is a very active non-profit organization responsible for maintaining green spaces and historic preservation efforts. The three parks they oversee include the historic E.W. Grove Park, the Griffing Boulevard Rose Garden (restored in 2021), and Sunset Park.
Learn more about the region and Grove Park in our Ultimate Guide to North Asheville.
Name Origins for Grove Park
While some may assume that the neighborhood was named after the storied Omni Grove Park Inn, where the historic hotel resides, it was actually the other way around. Edwin Wiley Grove, or E.W. Grove as he was called, first visited Asheville in 1897 to experience Asheville’s mountain air, which was said to have medicinal properties for his bronchial disorder. He was wooed by the area, built a summer home, established a lab for his pharmaceutical business, and developed “Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic” as a remedy for malaria.
The tonic catapulted Grove into millionaire status. In 1908, he quickly turned around and invested in a 3.16-acre lot, which was the original Grove Park subdivision, in addition to over 400 acres near Sunset Mountain in 1909 with Fred Seely. He planned and developed the neighborhood and three parks. Chauncey D. Beadle, a contemporary and partner of Frederick Law Olmsted, who helped develop the Biltmore Estate’s gardens, was responsible for developing E.W.Grove Park.
Discover more about Grove Park and the North Asheville area in our Ultimate Guide to North Asheville.
Grove Park Architecture
Architectural styles within Grove Park are stunning and wide-ranging. Styles include Chateauesque, Queen Anne, Italian Renaissance, Neo-Classical, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, and more. Over 290 buildings are located within the Grove Park Historic District of the original Grove Park subdivision. However, the broader Grove Park/Sunset neighborhood district includes over 800 households.
Notable homes and buildings within the community include homes like these: William Jennings Bryan House at 107 Evelyn Place
Ralph Worthington House at 41 Macon Ave
J.R. Oates House at 90 Gertrude Place
E.W. Grove’s office at 324 Charlotte Street
St. Mary’s Parish at 337 Charlotte Street
The Omni Grove Park Inn
Construction began in the summer of 1912, with more than 400 workers laboring in 10-hour shifts, six days a week. The undertaking was immense, with crews carrying thousands of pounds of granite across Sunset Mountains with mules and wagons. The Inn was inspired by the Arts and Crafts style and utilized Italian stonemasons to build the exterior. The Grove Park Inn opened its doors for the first time in July 1913. The Inn has maintained iconic status for over a century. Sammons Enterprises purchased the building in 1955 and aided its achievement of international notoriety, including adding a multi-million dollar spa in the late 1980s. The spa’s subterranean style, with unique cavernous architecture and mineral-based pools, consistently earns it top marks, landing it among the best spas in the U.S.
KSL Resorts acquired the Inn in 2012, and then Omni Hotels and Resorts purchased the Inn a year later. In 2007, it was inducted into the Historic Hotels of America. The hotel has hosted an incredible number of famous figures, including Albert Einstein, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, Helen Keller, and decades of U.S. Presidents from Franklin D. Roosevelt to Barack Obama.
The Omni Grove Park Inn also boasts a par-70 golf course spanning over 6,000 yards, renovated by the renowned golf course designer, Donald Ross, in 1926. The Grove Park Golf Course was included on the PGA Tour between 1933 and 1951 and welcomed golf greats like Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, and Ben Hogan. The course was again redesigned in 2011. The golf course is open year-round and offers golf lessons through its Golf Shop.
National Gingerbread House Competition
Hosted annually at The Omni Grove Park Inn, the National Gingerbread House Competition is one of the most celebrated and beloved holiday traditions not only in Asheville but in the nation. Featuring hundreds of elaborate, edible creations, public viewing dates typically run from mid-November through early January—the perfect way to kick off the holiday season!
Asheville residents and visitors alike love the "Life-Sized" Gingerbread House in the lobby that serves as a cafe, offering up decadent hot chocolate and sweet treats. After grabbing a beverage in a souvenir mug, gather around the towering stone fireplaces before meandering through the display. If you arrive before dark, be sure to step outside onto the Sunset Terrace for breathtaking panoramic mountain views!
Grove Park: A Legacy of Prestige + Value
This enduring enclave consistently reflects strong market demand, making it one of the most coveted Asheville addresses.As one of Asheville’s most distinguished neighborhoods, the range of Grove Park homes for sale are known for its blend of old-world charm and upscale living. From the mature tree canopies to the carefully maintained parks, this lovely neighborhood seamlessly integrates historic homes into the natural landscape, creating an enchanting yet grounded experience for its residents.