Destinations

First look: Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville reopens

Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville offered TPG with a complimentary one-night keep in order that we may get an inside have a look at the resort and its facilities. The opinions expressed beneath are fully these of the writer and weren’t topic to assessment by the resort or any exterior entity.

Whether or not 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 resort, contemporary off an attractive renovation.

A landmark within the metropolis’s Biltmore Village because it opened in 2008, the resort — and far of Biltmore Village — has been closed because the 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 Assortment has reopened this property — previously the Grand Bohemian Lodge — beneath a brand new identify, inclusive of each the founder’s ancestry and the historical past of the close by Biltmore Property.

By the renovations, Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville has held onto its yesteryear styling and opulence whereas freshening public areas just like the foyer, Crimson 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-Might grand reopening, I made my method to Asheville. Here is what I discovered.

Associated: Finest Marriott lodges on the planet

First impressions

JASON FRYE/FOR THE POINTS GUY

It was clear upon arrival that Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville, one of many seven inaugural Marriott Autograph Assortment properties, had made a full and (almost) full restoration. The truth is, 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 searching lodge vibe, with intricate wooden paneling, taxidermy searching 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 ground-to-coffered-ceiling wooden paneling, 18th-century columns, and a handful of Bavarian and Austrian antiques really feel extra like focal factors.

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Behind the foyer, Grand Bohemian Gallery acquired a refresh, together with a small enlargement of the gallery’s footprint and the addition of show circumstances for the jewellery; because of these circumstances, the gallery is now open 24 hours. As is true throughout The Kessler Assortment’s Grand Bohemian Galleries, the works right here concentrate on native and regional artists and jewelers, and the resort’s artwork curator plans to function extra artists and jewelers with occasions, trunk exhibits and extra all year long.

It was clear to me that no element went unnoticed on the resort, and the searching lodge/outdoor theme carried via every area. Suppose: chandeliers and lighting fixtures made out of antlers, door handles that appear like bark, a shade story stuffed with vivid forest tones, and different touches that tie the resort 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.

JASON FRYE/FOR THE POINTS GUY

The rooms

JASON FRYE/FOR THE POINTS GUY

Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville has 104 visitor rooms and suites in the principle resort and the Manor Home annex (as of writing this text, restoration work is ongoing however nearing completion on the Manor Home, 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 provided seating, a piece desk and a further tv, all set beneath an intricate stag horn chandelier. I additionally took be aware of a small moist bar space, a hidden minifridge and microwave, and a espresso station.

Within 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 lavatory.

JASON FRYE/FOR THE POINTS GUY

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

JASON FRYE/FOR THE POINTS GUY

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

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

Eating

JASON FRYE/FOR THE POINTS GUY

Crimson Stag Grill, the resort’s restaurant, underwent probably the most outstanding transformation. This area had at all times leaned onerous into the searching lodge theme, feeling very “previous boys membership” at occasions, however as with the foyer, the refresh has modernized the feel and appear of the area. 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 mild, revealing hidden photographs of stags, boars and butterflies, soften the area. Outsized work body the semi-open kitchen, giving diners a peek behind the scenes.

The most important change in Crimson Stag Grill is the alternative of an extended banquette with cubicles that make a extra pure seating configuration and lend the area a extra fashionable really feel.

In the back of the eating room, the Black Forest Wine Room, dominated by a backlit agate slab, provides extra seating and may be closed for personal dinners and occasions.

JASON FRYE/FOR THE POINTS GUY

The meals at Crimson Stag Grill, notable because the resort’s opening, was excellent. The breakfast, lunch and dinner menus emphasize the wealthy native meals scene with farmed and foraged produce and a stunning array of aged steaks and unique meats corresponding 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 contemporary seafood and farm-raised trout, and an expansive wine, cocktail and mocktail checklist 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 break up) and staples (omelets, pancakes and the like).

Facilities

JASON FRYE/FOR THE POINTS GUY
  • In the principle resort, The Spa at Grand Bohemian offers facials and massages in a comfortable area.
  • The on-site health heart provides a well-appointed area for a resort 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 Property and a seven-minute experience from Downtown. Biltmore Village, established within the late 1800s as a depot and settlement for the property’s army-sized building crew, was hit onerous 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 below are closed whereas they rebuild. That is 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 Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide 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 resort.

What it prices to remain at Grand Bohemian Lodge and how you can e-book

Since this can be a Marriott resort, you’ll be able to earn or redeem factors to your keep. If you happen to’re reserving with factors, count on to spend between 65,500 and 95,500 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening.

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

There’s a $36 nightly valet price, and when you’re touring with pets, put together your self for the $150 nonrefundable pet price ($50 for a further pet, with a most of two pets per room).

And from now via Sept. 7, the resort is providing a Grand Reopening fee that features a 20% financial savings and breakfast for 2 each day. Different packages out there embrace each day breakfast and a $100 resort 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 need to use one of many bank cards that earn probably the most factors for Marriott stays, or one that gives computerized Marriott Bonvoy elite standing for value-added advantages. These embrace:

  • Marriott Bonvoy Sensible® American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Platinum Elite standing and 25 elite evening credit per yr towards a better tier.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bevy™ American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Gold Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per yr towards a better tier.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Gold Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per yr towards a better tier.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Enterprise® American Specific® Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Gold Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per yr towards a better tier.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit score Card: Earn 6 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Silver Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per yr towards a better tier.
  • Marriott Bonvoy Daring Credit score Card: Earn 3 factors per greenback spent on eligible purchases at lodges collaborating within the Marriott Bonvoy program, computerized Silver Elite standing and 15 elite evening credit per yr towards a better tier.

The knowledge for the Marriott Bonvoy Bountiful card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or offered by the cardboard issuer.

Accessibility

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

These rooms supply mobility accessible options like lavatory 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 may be 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 resort earlier than reserving to make sure it may possibly meet your wants.

Backside line

JASON FRYE/FOR THE POINTS GUY

After my one-night keep at Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville, I am impressed and desperate to return for one more keep or no less than one other meal at Crimson Stag Grill.

In case your preferrred Asheville getaway places each restaurant and brewery your coronary heart needs solely a block or two from the resort entrance, this may not be the spot for you. But when 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 Property could not be nearer. Different regional icons (the Arboretum, Blue Ridge Parkway, Nice Smoky Mountains Nationwide Park and waterfalls discovered an hour south of town) are inside a fast drive’s attain, too.

If you happen to’re looking for polished luxurious, high-concept design and an outstanding in-house restaurant, Grand Bohemian Lodge Asheville is the resort for you.

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