Frommer's Review
This resort, built in 1913, is one of the oldest and most famous in the South. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it's a favorite year-round destination, providing panoramic views of the city's skyline and the Blue Ridge Mountains, old-world charm, and a long tradition of hospitality. Completely renovated in recent years, it's our favorite choice in the entire western section of North Carolina.
The two newer wings reflect the spirit of the original design. Novelist F. Scott Fitzgerald stayed at the hotel while his wife, Zelda, spent her nights in a sanitarium nearby. The hotel offers a romantic-getaway package called the Great Gatsby, although Fitzgerald's stay was hardly romantic. Over the years, the resort has hosted some of the most famous names of the 20th century, including Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, and Harvey Firestone. Presidents Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson also slept here.
The inn is built on the side of Sunset Mountain at an elevation of 3,100 feet. Its great-hall lobby is flanked by 14-foot fireplaces; comfortably padded chairs and sofas create a feeling of coziness despite the size of the 120-foot-long room. Twenty-eight of the bedrooms are oversize, containing such extras as whirlpools. All units contain well-kept bathrooms with tub/shower combinations.
Horizons Restaurant, featuring an innovative but classic cuisine, is the finest in the area. Guests can also dine in the moderately priced Blue Ridge Dining Room, which has a legendary outdoor dining veranda. The Carolina Cafe also overlooks the mountains. Elaine's has reopened as a dueling piano bar, the only one in Asheville.
Facilities:
3 restaurants; 3 bars; 2 pools (1 indoor); 18-hole golf course; 6 tennis courts; fitness center; health spa; sauna; limited room service; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning; nonsmoking rooms; rooms for those w/limited mobility
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
