Groupon Getaways do not appeal to me. By the time I sort through the restrictions, try to find dates that work for me and realize that if I succeed in both, I’ll still feel like a second class citizen when I hand over my coupon at check-in. It’s just not worth it. That said, I like a good deal as much as the next guy, so, I was pretty pleased to rediscover an historic inn from the past, Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock.
With my teenage daughter, Ashley, having a rare free weekend, I remembered the Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock. I hadn’t visited Green Park in over 20 years but vaguely remembered they had gone into bankruptcy in the recent past. Calling the Inn to inquire, I got an even better rate than online …$117 for two double beds, including buffet breakfast for two. So, off we went to Blowing Rock.
The hotel’s curb appeal is still great. Billed as the “last of the Grand Manor Hotels” in western North Carolina, at 125 years of age she is the state’s second oldest operating hotel. Built in 1891 by three businessmen from Lenoir, the hotel for many years served as the US Post Office for the entire area. (Some of the original Post Office artifacts are on display in the lobby).
The original hotel had 53,000 square feet on three levels, with a restaurant and a bar. In the late 1950s, the golf wing,overlooking the Blowing Rock Country Club golf course, was added. Throughout its lifetime, the hotel has entertained the likes of Annie Oakley, J.D. Rockefeller, Eleanor Roosevelt, Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover and Margaret Mitchell who penned part of Gone with The Wind while a guest. You can feel the history as you enter the lobby, complete with baby grand piano and multiple sitting areas.
Brothers and New York hoteliers, Eugene and Steven Irace, have a passion for old inns,
as evidenced througout the elegantly renovated Green Park Inn.
Most of the inn’s newly purchased furniture was manufactured in North Carolina.
First impressions are welcoming; however, I began having second thoughts as I peered behind the registration desk. (It looked old and tired.) I was checked in at $140 per night on the first floor. Noting that I had been quoted a lower rate, the clerk changed the rate but downgraded us to third floor rooms.
Reaching the elevator, we became concerned; it looked like it might be original equipment with perhaps a mule out back, pulling it up and down the shaft. It was too early in the day to have had a drink so I was pretty sure it wasn’t me, but the floors had a decided list, apparently from the building settling over the decades. The hallways, like the rooms, had exposed fire protection plumbing hanging from the ceiling. Perhaps we should check-out and rethink our options. We are glad we persevered.
The Inn had indeed been forced into bankruptcy around 2009 after years of struggling to survive. It sat empty, completely empty, as every stick of furniture had been removed, until two New York hoteliers, Eugene and Steven Irace, purchased the Inn. The two brothers have a passion for preserving and restoring old inns which is evident throughout the Inn. Settling in the room, we found that even the “cheap rooms” show this passion; they had been completely and somewhat elegantly renovated.
The floors were still not level which became part of the charm of this place. The wallpaper was period but appropriate and new. The window treatments were beautiful. We travel frequently, enjoying Platinum Status with Marriott and Diamond Status with Hilton; this room’s appointments compare well with either of these chain’s best rooms. The carpets were plush and new. The new furniture was upscale, and best of all, these New York owners purchased “American” as most of the furniture (primarily Thomasville) was manufactured in North Carolina.
Our room had a small sitting area, a personal-sized Keurig with coffees and teas, and the requisite flat screen TV. The bathroom was small, but the towels were new with fine soaps by Essential Elements. Our opinion was very rapidly improving: this room was thoughtfully appointed and the odd quirks of the hotel became its charm.
There was enough daylight left on this February afternoon for a hike. Fortunately, Julian Price Park and Moses Cone Park are right around the corner, offering many recreational opportunities. Julian Price Memorial Park, comprising 4,300 acres, is named in honor of Julian Price, a Greensboro insurance executive, who purchased the acreage in the late 1930s and 1940s. It was a retreat for his employees, offering many activities, including hiking, fishing, canoeing, camping, guided walks, and evening campfire programs. He later donated the land to the parkway.
The park has seven trails, including the challenging five-mile Boone Fork Loop Trail; the Tanawha Trail (13.5 miles) which passes under the Linn Cove Viaduct and around Grandfather Mountain; and the trail we chose, the Price Lake Loop Trail (2.7 miles) which circles the well-stocked Price Lake. We finished the hike around the frozen lake just as the sun was setting.
Surrounding the Green Park Inn are areas to enjoy,
such as the Linn Cove Viaduct on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Back at the hotel, we dressed for dinner and on the way out of the Inn, discovered a pianist playing to an empty lobby. We decided to enjoy the comfortable sitting area and chatting with the pianist while others soon joined us. As we enjoyed the music, the bartender in the hotel’s original bar, located off the lobby, offered up a well-crafted Manhatten. This was a highlight of the trip for both Ashley and me. The comfortable lobby encouraged conversation with the other guests as we enjoyed the fine music, a warming drink and a lively exchange with the pianist.
The next morning we were a little disappointed to find there was no breakfast buffet in the Chestnut Grille due to the hotel’s low occupancy. The disappointment disappeared when the chef sent out an outstanding cooked-to-order breakfast. Eggs should be easy to cook, but it’s surprising how few chefs get it right. The eggs, as well as the other items, were hot and cooked perfectly. We could tell someone in the kitchen cared about what they were sending out to guests.
Breakfast was so good, we decided to stay for lunch so asked for a late check-out. The front desk readily agreed which allowed for another adventure. A 15-minute drive put us in Valle Crucis on the trail to the Crab Orchard Falls. This hike begins behind the Valley Crucis Conference center, a former Presbyterian Mission dating back to the late 1800s, and takes you through some beautiful woods and up some steep hills to a set of falls. It’s easy rock-climbing up the falls if you are so inclined. It also makes a great photo op and prepares you for lunch.
Back to the Inn’s Chestnut Grille which doesn’t open for lunch on Sunday until 1p.m. Unfortunately, we were one of only two couples dining in this Sunday. The special for February was Prime Rib so we decided to share an order. What appeared was positively the largest and most perfectly cooked slab of Prime Rib we could imagine. Served with asparagus the size of a finger, we marveled that the chef could turn out food of this quality with so few patrons. The downside of Chestnut Grille is the depressing lighting. The dark paneling, multiple tiers, and beautifully appointed sitting area are overwhelmed by poor lighting, but the food and service is well worth enduring that small discomfort.
“You can’t judge a book by its cover.” The initial impression of Green Park Inn should not prevent a visit there. The Inn is charming, the appointments exceptional and the restaurant truly fantastic, and all at a price point that made our weekend getaway a real deal.