The Green Park Inn is a historic hotel located on the Eastern Continental Divide in Blowing Rock , North Carolina. The hotel was built in the 1880s and operated continuously until May 24, 2009, reopening after change of ownership and renovation on October 29, 2010.
9-508: The Green Park Inn is a member of Historic Hotels of America , the official program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation for recognizing and celebrating the finest historic hotels across America. Past guests of the hotel have included John D. Rockefeller , Herbert Hoover , Annie Oakley , Calvin Coolidge , Eleanor Roosevelt and Margaret Mitchell among others. It was added to
18-566: A progressively successful year. In 2016, the hotel celebrated its 125th anniversary at a gala dinner and dance celebrating a milestone for the state's second oldest operating resort hotel and the last of the "Grand Manor" hotels still operating in western North Carolina. Included among the guests were descendants of two of the three hotels founders, the Bernhardt family and the Harper family. Historic Hotels of America Historic Hotels of America
27-536: Is a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation that was founded in 1989 with 32 charter members; the program accepts nominations and identifies hotels in the United States that have maintained their authenticity, sense of place, and architectural integrity. As of 2015, the program included over 260 members in 44 of the 50 states and Puerto Rico , the U.S. Virgin Islands , and Washington, D.C. . By 2024,
36-699: The National Register of Historic Places on June 3, 1982. It is located in the Green Park Historic District . In the latter part of the Civil War a small fortification was built on the site of the Green Park by Federal Troops. The hotel is purported to be haunted , and has played host over the years to several conventions of ghost hunters . In the face of a difficult economy, the Green Park Inn
45-679: The Chestnut Grille, to hone the American Chestnut from which the hotel is primarily constructed) and the Divide Tavern (so named as it straddles the Eastern Continental Divide) following a gut renovation of the hotel's kitchen facilities. The new food and beverage operations was headed by James Beard award-winning Chef James Welch. On October 29, 2011, the Green Park Inn celebrated its first anniversary of reopening after having
54-685: The HHA program, by state, include: Former members: Former members: 2022 HHA still Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Formerly listed: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Former members: Charter members of Historic Hotels of America no longer with
63-615: The program expanded to include 281 hotels. To be included in the program, a hotel must be at least 50 years old, designated by the U.S. Secretary of the Interior as a National Historic Landmark or listed on or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places ; and recognized as having historic significance. The program generates funds for the National Trust through commissions on bookings done through their website, and from membership fees. Current and former members of
72-642: The property. Just off the Lobby is the History Room which recounts the Hotel's storied past and contains the original Green Park U.S. Post Office. Following an aggressive renovation of the property, The Green Park Inn reopened to the public on October 29, 2010. During the refurnishing, the owners purchased only American made products. On July 1, 2011, the Green Park Inn reopened the Laurel Room Restaurant (now named
81-564: Was closed seeking a new buyer in 2009, and foreclosed later that year. On March 31, 2010, The Green Park Inn was purchased by two New York real estate investors who were already the owners of a number of other hotel properties. The new owners worked extensively with the Blowing Rock Historical Society and the State Historic Preservation authority in order to the retain charm, character, and historical integrity of
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