First Couple Chooses Historic, Legendary Grove Park Inn for Couples Retreat

ASHEVILLE, N.C., April 26 /PRNewswire/ -- President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama experienced the legendary service The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa is known world-wide for this past weekend. President Obama is the tenth United States President to vacation at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. The President and First Lady invited two other couples who are close friends of the First Family to join them for their vacation at the historic resort. President Obama had vowed to return to Grove Park after his first stay at the resort in 2008. President Obama used the Inn's Grand Ballroom in 2008 to practice for the Presidential debate with Sen. John McCain in Nashville. At a campaign rally during that first stay, Obama told the thousands of people in attendance that he wanted to return to the resort to play on Grove Park's world-renowned, Donald Ross designed golf course. Upon arriving, when President Obama exited his limousine he stated, "I told you I was going to bring my wife back." With that remark, President Obama became one of several sitting U.S. Presidents to stay at the historic resort, and the tenth U.S. President to stay at Grove Park since the famous Inn opened in 1913.

"President Obama personally chose Grove Park Inn to bring back his wife and friends for a private vacation," said Craig Madison, President and Chief Executive Officer for The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. "He fell in love with The Grove Park Inn, our staff, and most importantly our Donald Ross golf course. It was our pleasure and our honor to welcome him, his beautiful wife and very gracious friends."

President Obama played several rounds of golf during his stay at The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa. Golfweek magazine included Grove Park's course in its 2005 "America's Best" listings and Golf Digest has named the course "one of the ten best courses in the United States that is 100 years old or more." Designed by the legendary Donald Ross, the course is also rated as one of the best in North Carolina.

President Obama, the First Lady and their friends also spent time relaxing in Grove Park's world-class, subterranean spa and sport complex.  The Spa is more than 43,000 square feet in size, 20,000 of which are amenities. The First Couple and their friends enjoyed the Spa's mineral pools with their soothing underwater music and nearby waterfall pools, exhilarating contrast pools, a lap pool, an inhalation room, sauna and a eucalyptus-infused steam room.

"President Obama's second visit to The Grove Park Inn was truly history in the making for our wonderful resort," said Ronald E. Morin, Vice President and Managing Director. "We are honored that the President recognized The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa as the perfect getaway for any couple."

About The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa

The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa is a four-diamond resort overlooking Asheville's skyline and the Blue Ridge Mountains.  Built in 1913, the Inn is on the National Register of Historic Places and a member of Historic Hotels of America and among Travel + Leisure's Top five Spa Resorts in the United States. Amenities include a world-class spa, Club Floor, award winning fine dining, Donald Ross golf course, tennis, swimming, sports complex, retail shops, nightly entertainment and children's programs.

For information on The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa go to: http://www.groveparkinn.com.

SOURCE The Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa