A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the memory of the designers of the grove park inn while observing the inn's one hundredth anniversary.
Whereas, The Grove Park Inn sits on Sunset Mountain in Buncombe County, North Carolina; and
Whereas, The Grove Park Inn was envisioned and designed by Edwin Wiley Grove and his son‑in‑law Fred Loring Seely; and
Whereas, The Grove Park Inn had a groundbreaking ceremony on July 9, 1912, and opened to the public on July 12, 1913; and
Whereas, in his speech at the opening banquet, United States Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan proclaimed The Grove Park Inn as "the triumph of architectural skill mingled with a scenic splendor of nature's handiwork, the whole blending in one great harmony never before equaled in the annals of the builders' craft"; and
Whereas, The Grove Park Inn, upon its opening, was called "the finest resort hotel in the world" by newspapers across the United States; and
Whereas, the Spa at The Grove Park Inn, since its 2001 opening, has been consistently recognized as one of the top 20 in the world by prestigious travel publications; and
Whereas, The Grove Park Inn is the home of The National Gingerbread House Competition and Display; and
Whereas, The Grove Park Inn has the largest public display of Arts & Crafts style furniture in the world and has served as a retreat for 10 United States Presidents; and
Whereas, welcoming nearly 500,000 guests from around the world annually, The Grove Park Inn is the largest single contributor of occupancy tax to the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority and is one of the largest private employers in the City of Asheville; and
Whereas, The Grove Park Inn celebrates its centennial on July 12, 2013; Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:
SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Edwin Wiley Grove and Fred Loring Seely and expresses its appreciation for their role in establishing The Grove Park Inn.
SECTION 2.  The General Assembly recognizes The Grove Park Inn as an important landmark and joins the citizens of Asheville in congratulating The Grove Park Inn on its 100th anniversary.
SECTION 3.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to The Grove Park Inn.
SECTION 4.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.