First look: Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville reopens

Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville supplied TPG with a complimentary one-night keep in order that we may get an inside take a look at the lodge and its facilities. The opinions expressed under are completely these of the writer and weren’t topic to overview by the lodge or any exterior entity.

Whether you are planning a visit to Asheville, North Carolina, to spend some Marriott factors or to be a part of town’s post-Hurricane Helene restoration story, Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville provides you the chance to do each whereas celebrating an iconic lodge, recent off a stupendous renovation.

A landmark within the metropolis’s Biltmore Village because it opened in 2008, the lodge — and far of Biltmore Village — has been closed for the reason that catastrophic flooding introduced by Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Now, after greater than seven months of cleanup, restoration and renovation totaling almost $20 million, The Kessler Collection has reopened this property — previously the Grand Bohemian Hotel — beneath a brand new identify, inclusive of each the founder’s ancestry and the historical past of the close by Biltmore Estate.

Through the renovations, Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville has held onto its yesteryear styling and opulence whereas freshening public areas just like the foyer, Red Stag Grill, Grand Bohemian Gallery and the visitor rooms.

As a North Carolinian and journey author with an unabashed affinity for the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains, I mourned the short-term closure of the property, so when an invite got here to attend the early-May grand reopening, I made my technique to Asheville. Here’s what I discovered.

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First impressions

It was clear upon arrival that Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville, one of many seven inaugural Marriott Autograph Collection properties, had made a full and (almost) full restoration. In reality, the restoration work was impeccable and my preliminary response was to surprise what adjustments the restoration and refresh had introduced.

The design right here has at all times leaned closely right into a luxurious looking lodge vibe, with intricate wooden paneling, taxidermy looking trophies on the wall, heirloom and vintage firearms, and a mixture of classical and modern artwork — however with a yesteryear really feel. Now, new seating organized across the foyer’s outsized central hearth creates cozy spots for dialog, and a streamlined entrance desk provides the room a greater stream. The floor-to-coffered-ceiling wooden paneling, 18th-century columns, and a handful of Bavarian and Austrian antiques really feel extra like focal factors.

Behind the foyer, Grand Bohemian Gallery obtained a refresh, together with a small enlargement of the gallery’s footprint and the addition of show instances for the jewellery; due to these instances, the gallery is now open 24 hours. As is true throughout The Kessler Collection’s Grand Bohemian Galleries, the works right here give attention to native and regional artists and jewelers, and the lodge’s artwork curator plans to function further artists and jewelers with occasions, trunk exhibits and extra all year long.

It was clear to me that no element went unnoticed on the lodge, and the looking lodge/open air theme carried via every house. Think: chandeliers and lighting fixtures constituted of antlers, door handles that seem like bark, a shade story filled with vivid forest tones, and different touches that tie the lodge to Asheville’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Even minor notions just like the room “keys” — discs of logo-embossed wooden that served as digital keys — drew me deeper into the sense of place, and visitor rooms had been no exception.

The rooms

Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville has 104 visitor rooms and suites in the primary lodge and the Manor House annex (as of writing this text, restoration work is ongoing however nearing completion on the Manor House, taking 20 rooms out of the present stock).

My room, a well-lit nook junior suite with home windows aplenty, was spacious and effectively appointed, with dramatic velvet curtains separating the bed room from the adjoining salon, which supplied seating, a piece desk and an extra tv, all set beneath an intricate stag horn chandelier. I additionally took observe of a small moist bar space, a hidden minifridge and microwave, and a espresso station.

In the bed room, stag horn wall sconces framed the very snug king-size mattress, which sat beneath one other chandelier, and in opposition to a inexperienced leather-based headboard and lighter inexperienced accent wall. A tv sat atop a dresser. There was a sq. window that opened into the moodily lit rest room.

The rest room had each a soaking tub and a separate bathe. Refillable cleaning soap, shampoo, conditioner and physique wash — made completely for Kessler’s Grand Bohemian properties — smelled pleasant and mitigated the lodge’s reliance on single-use plastics.

I discovered loads of retailers and USB ports for charging my electronics, and storage was ample due to the nightstands and dresser within the bed room, the closet and drawers all through the house.

Those with an attentive eye for element could discover some furnishings — the desk, a bench or an ottoman — have not but been up to date. General Manager Matthew Lehman says that is by design and Grand Bohemian will substitute these items throughout the property as soon as the Manor House restoration is full.

Dining

Red Stag Grill, the lodge’s restaurant, underwent essentially the most outstanding transformation. This house had at all times leaned arduous into the looking lodge theme, feeling very “old boys club” at occasions, however as with the foyer, the refresh has modernized the feel and appear of the house. The coffered ceilings, herringbone ground and darkish shiplap partitions are nonetheless there, however the open desk spacing, assortment of intimate tables for 2 and sheer drapes that glow within the night gentle, revealing hidden pictures of stags, boars and butterflies, soften the house. Oversized work body the semi-open kitchen, giving diners a peek behind the scenes.

The largest change in Red Stag Grill is the substitute of an extended banquette with cubicles that make a extra pure seating configuration and lend the house a extra trendy really feel.

At the again of the eating room, the Black Forest Wine Room, dominated by a backlit agate slab, gives further seating and might be closed for personal dinners and occasions.

The meals at Red Stag Grill, notable for the reason that lodge’s opening, was excellent. The breakfast, lunch and dinner menus emphasize the wealthy native meals scene with farmed and foraged produce and a shocking array of aged steaks and unique meats similar to elk and bison.

Elk carpaccio and Bison tartare, menu mainstays, had been pretty much as good as ever, and the choice of steaks and chops was spectacular. I additionally discovered monumental salads, a choice of recent seafood and farm-raised trout, and an expansive wine, cocktail and mocktail listing on supply. Lunch featured salads, a home burger and lighter choices; breakfast had Southern favorites (shrimp and grits, biscuits and gravy), surprises (a scrumptious breakfast salad and an ice-cream-free breakfast banana cut up) and staples (omelets, pancakes and the like).

Amenities

• In the primary lodge, The Spa at Grand Bohemian gives facials and massages in a comfortable house.
• The on-site health heart gives a well-appointed house for a lodge exercise.

Location and logistics

Asheville’s an easy-to-navigate city, and most of its visitor-friendly neighborhoods are a brief drive from each other. Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville sits on the fringe of Biltmore Village, 100 yards or so from the doorway to Biltmore Estate and a seven-minute journey from Downtown. Biltmore Village, established within the late 1800s as a depot and settlement for the property’s army-sized building crew, was hit arduous by Hurricane Helene’s floodwaters and is present process a revival of its personal; as of this writing, most of the boutiques and eating places listed here are closed whereas they rebuild. That’s not the case in Downtown or the South Slope, adjoining to Biltmore Village, although you will discover restricted openings within the River Arts District as this assortment of warehouses-turned-studios and galleries rebuilds following Helene’s flooding.

The closest airport to the property is Asheville Regional Airport (AVL), about 15 miles or a 30-minute drive away.

Asheville itself sits in western North Carolina, one hour west of Cherokee and the Oconaluftee entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Blue Ridge Parkway, a 469-mile scenic route via the mountains of North Carolina and Virginia, skirts town and is minutes from the lodge.

What it prices to remain at Grand Bohemian Lodge and find out how to e book

Since it is a Marriott lodge, you’ll be able to earn or redeem factors on your keep. If you are reserving with factors, count on to spend between 65,500 and 95,500 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening.

Standard money room charges vary from $460 to $589, with bigger suites and studios within the $567 to $616 vary.

There is a $36 nightly valet payment, and for those who’re touring with pets, put together your self for the $150 nonrefundable pet payment ($50 for an extra pet, with a most of two pets per room).

And from now via Sept. 7, the lodge is providing a Grand Reopening fee that features a 20% financial savings and breakfast for 2 each day. Other packages accessible embody each day breakfast and a $100 lodge credit score when reserving three nights (good via September 2025) and reductions on stays of 5 or extra nights.

When reserving the Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville, you will wish to use one of many bank cards that earn essentially the most factors for Marriott stays, or one that provides automated Marriott Bonvoy elite standing for value-added advantages. These embody:

• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, automated Platinum Elite standing and 25 elite evening credit per 12 months towards the next tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Express® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, automated Gold Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per 12 months towards the next tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, automated Gold Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per 12 months towards the next tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, automated Gold Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per 12 months towards the next tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, automated Silver Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per 12 months towards the next tier.
• Marriott Bonvoy Bold Credit Card: Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at motels taking part within the Marriott Bonvoy program, automated Silver Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per 12 months towards the next tier.

The data for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.

Accessibility

Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville gives 4 accessible room sorts: a Main Building room with king mattress, a Main Building room with two queen beds, an Exec Studio Main Building room and a Separate Manor Building room.

These rooms supply mobility accessible options like rest room seize bars, bathtub seize bars, roll-in showers and 32-inch-wide doorways. Accessible rooms additionally function visible alarms and notification gadgets for each the door and the in-room phone.

There is an accessible route from the general public entrance to the accessible visitor rooms. As at all times, for questions on accessibility, we suggest contacting the lodge earlier than reserving to make sure it will probably meet your wants.

Bottom line

After my one-night keep at Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville, I’m impressed and desperate to return for an additional keep or at the least one other meal at Red Stag Grill.

If your splendid Asheville getaway places each restaurant and brewery your coronary heart wishes solely a block or two from the lodge entrance, this may not be the spot for you. But if a fast drive downtown sounds OK, Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville makes for a great spot. Downtown (and different food- and art-filled neighborhoods) is simply 2 miles away and the Biltmore Estate could not be nearer. Other regional icons (the Arboretum, Blue Ridge Parkway, Great Smoky Mountains National Park and waterfalls discovered an hour south of town) are inside a fast drive’s attain, too.

If you are in quest of polished luxurious, high-concept design and an outstanding in-house restaurant, Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville is the lodge for you.

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