The Omni Grove Park Inn & Spa

The honest review

The Omni Grove Park Inn has been anchoring Asheville's skyline since 1913, and the fact that it still draws families generation after generation says something real. Built from massive boulders quarried from the surrounding mountains, the main inn has a gravity to it that chain hotels simply cannot replicate. You feel it the moment you walk through the front entrance and see the two enormous fireplaces flanking the great hall — each one big enough to park a car in.

For families, the resort's strongest play is the Omni Kids program, which targets children 10 and under and runs through locally-inspired activities: hands-on cooking workshops, outdoor exploration, arts and crafts, and evening s'mores around the fire. It is not a full drop-off daycare — it is more of a structured enrichment offering — but it gives parents breathing room and gives kids something genuinely memorable to do rather than just stare at a screen.

The outdoor pool is a seasonal amenity (typically open late May through early October) and it is the social center of summer stays. The views from the pool deck over the valley toward the Blue Ridge Parkway are legitimately spectacular. There is also an indoor pool for year-round swimming. The sports complex adds rock climbing, tennis courts, and pickleball, which teens in particular tend to gravitate toward. The Donald Ross-designed golf course is a draw for multi-generational trips where grandparents want time on the fairway while kids explore elsewhere.

Room fit for families deserves an honest note: the standard rooms in the historic inn are elegant but not large by modern resort standards. Families with young kids can make it work with a double-double, but families with tweens and teens may want to look at suites or book connecting rooms. The newer wings (Vanderbilt Wing, Club Level) offer more modern finishes and slightly larger footprints.

Pricing is Grove Park's biggest friction point for families. Rooms regularly run $400–$600 in peak season, and resort fees and dining costs add up quickly. The spa — which might seem like a parent-recovery anchor — is adults only (18+), so it is not the escape hatch younger parents might hope for. That said, the resort packages sometimes include dining credits that soften the blow.

The location is excellent for exploring. Biltmore Estate is a short drive, the Blue Ridge Parkway is nearby, and downtown Asheville's restaurants and the River Arts District are accessible without a long haul. Fall foliage season (mid-October) is spectacular but also the most expensive and crowded window to visit.

Bottom line: if budget allows, Grove Park delivers a cohesive mountain resort experience with genuine history and enough structured programming that kids come away with real memories — not just pool time. It is not cheap, and the historic rooms are cozier than spacious, but the setting and brand of hospitality are hard to match in the Southern Appalachians.