Arts & Crafts Hotel Will Fully Reopen to All Guests December 2nd
by Kate Nixon
Editor’s note: this story has been updated to reflect the latest update as of November 28th, 2025.
After two months of recovering from weather-related damage to the region of Western North Carolina, the historic Grove Park Inn will fully open all parts of the hotel to both day guests and overnight guests.
After opening sections of the hotel to day and overnight guests to ensure utility restoration during the month of November, all sections of the hotel and the GPI campus will be re-opened starting December 2nd, including the Sammons wing. The final December date marks the last of the reopening plan put in place meant to gradually and safely open the Asheville, North Carolina hotel to guests. The hotel has been decorated for the holidays and encourages guests to follow the Gingerbread house “Trail of Giving” into the now-open downtown Asheville, where select entries of their annual Gingerbread house contest will be found in a number of stories and landmarks.
As other businesses slowly continue to soft open their doors in areas of Asheville affected by Helene, this step towards a full re-opening means a new level of healing and enjoyment in time for the holiday season. “Western North Carolina has displayed remarkable strength, and as Asheville reopens, we’re honored to welcome visitors back to our beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains,” said Gary Froeba, Managing Director at The Omni Grove Park Inn to local station WYFF. “We are grateful to be reopening, especially in time for the holidays, as this is a meaningful step in our shared journey of recovery, one that brings hope and support to our community. Tourism holds an important role in Western North Carolina’s path forward, and each visit brings encouragement to our employees, neighbors, and friends as we work together to rebuild and heal.”
Water services have been restored to the city of Asheville and utilities continue the restoration process in towns outside the city. Currently the Grove Park Inn has opened the historic main inn, the Vanderbilt wing and the Blue Ridge Dining Room, Edison Craft Ales and Kitchen, the Great Hall Bar, the Spa, the Golf Course and Sports Complex.
Guests enjoy the fireplace in the Great Hall. Photo by Ray Stubblebine
Collectors explore the 2024 Arts & Crafts Antiques Show in the Grand Ballroom at the Grove Park Inn this past February. Photo by Ray Stubblebine.
Conference attendees gather in the Heritage ballroom during the 2020 National Arts & Crafts Conference and Shows to celebrate those with perfect attendance – a tradition that has continued every year. Photo by Ray Stubblebine.
Bruce Johnson, the founder of the National Arts and Crafts Conference and Shows and author of many books about the Grove Park Inn’s storied past, talks about the Palm Court located in the historic main inn in a virtual tour recorded and released in 2021 as part of the month-long virtual National Arts & Crafts Conference. The main inn and palm court will re-open to overnight guests starting November 15th.
Meanwhile, the office (off campus) of the National Arts & Crafts Conference and Shows continues to accept registration for The National Arts and Crafts Conference Events Passes (for those not purchasing an Arts & Crafts weekend package including the two-night stay at the Grove Park Inn) and the two-day Pre-Conference Workshops happening both Thursday, February 20th and Friday, February 21st, 2025.
For additional updates to the 2025 Conference, please visit Arts-CraftsConference.com
For additional updates for the Grove Park Inn’s reopening, please click here.
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