A Man with a Vision for Asheville
Edwin Wiley Grove (1850 – 1927)
E.W. Grove not only shaped the city of Asheville, he set in motion his dream that Asheville would become the alluring destination it is today. But who was the man behind the legendary name?
Tragedy Leads To Purpose
During the nineteenth century malaria struck the South with a vengeance. There was no cure and it became one of the leading causes of death. Grove’s youngest daughter, Irma, and his wife, Mary, were both victims of the disease. Grove’s grief turned into determination to find a remedy for malaria. It was known that quinine would reduce the fevers and chills caused by malaria, though it would never be a cure.
The issue with quinine was that it was literally hard to swallow. “I had a little drug business in Paris, Tennessee, just barely making a living, when I got up a real invention, tasteless quinine. As a poor man and a poor boy, I conceived the idea that whoever could produce a tasteless chill tonic, his fortune was made.” — E.W. Grove. In 1889 Grove’s Tasteless Chill Tonic was born and by 1890 more bottles were sold than Coca-Cola.
Grove moved his business to St. Louis where he could more easily ship his product throughout the US. The smog and smoke of the factory district caused Grove health problems. The most pressing of these was chronic hiccups.
Asheville Bound
With his doctors urgings in 1897, Grove, his second wife Gertrude and their two children began spending their summers in Asheville amidst the clean mountain air.
Grove turned his attention to real estate and by 1907 had amassed 1,000 acres of land. He created charming residential neighborhoods in North Asheville. Today they remain intact and all are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Tourism or Sanitarium
In the beginning of the 20th century, masses of people traveled to Asheville seeking relief from the symptoms of tuberculosis. Sanatoriums were being built for the sick and dying while Asheville was becoming one of the country’s fastest growing tourism destinations. Grove was adamantly opposed to plans to build a “national tuberculosis sanitarium.”
About this time Grove and son-in-law, Fred Seely, were discussing the idea of building a world-class luxury resort. Grove threatened to stop plans for the hotel if Asheville was to be promoted as the center for tuberculosis recovery. Those plans ceased and Grove and Seely went ahead with the grand plans to build The Grove Park Inn.
The Grove Park Inn
On July 9, 1912, Gertrude Grove lifted the first shovel of dirt during the ground breaking ceremony. Overseeing the construction, Seely announced his ambitious plan to have the hotel open one year later. The six-story, Arts & Crafts hotel, built from the huge boulders on Sunset Mountain, opened 368 days later. Since then, The Grove Park Inn has had periods of uncertain survival but over 100 years later, and a recent $25 million dollar renovation it is clear that this iconic Southern jewel will continue to thrive.
Grove Goes Downtown
In the early 1920’s Grove turned his attention to downtown Asheville. He conceived the idea of an Arcade that would be “the most elegant building in America”—and a new kind of retail center. Today The Grove Arcade is the vibrant image Grove imagined, with lively restaurants and boutiques.
Exploring Grove’s Legacy
Take a Trolley
One of the best ways to explore the living history of Grove is to take the history tour on Gray Line Trolley Tours. It includes a stop at the Omni Grove Park Inn.
If you are planning on visiting during The Gingerbread House display – avoid the traffic and cost of parking by taking the Gray Line Trolley (the only trolley that stops at the Omni Grove Park Inn). Non-hotel guests can visit Sunday (after 3 p.m.) through Thursday during the display. Parking is based on availability.
Every September marks the Grove Park Neighborhood Tour of Homes. A trolley tour includes historic homes, as well as the Omni Grove Park Inn.
