1899 Wright Inn Bed and Breakfast "Asheville Winter Escape Specials

Please see our new SPECIALS recently placed on the website

Come join us at the 1899 Wright Inn and Carriage House for a "Winter Getaway", "New Years Romance Package", or numerous packages built around your visit to America's largest residence, The Biltmore Estate.

With times as tough as they are, we will do our best to make sure that your Asheville Bed and Breakfast stay is as affordable as possible.

Have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Barbara & Bob Gilmore
Owners & Innkeepers

Experience the Biltmore Estate's Candlelight Extravaganza while staying at our Asheville Bed and Breakfast

One of the biggest tourist attractions in Asheville is of course, the Biltmore Estate. From now until January 3, 2010, the Biltmore offers candlelight tours in addition to their regular daytime house tours. The house by day is impressive and very beautiful; but by night, it's magical.

To help you enjoy a visit by day, we offer a Biltmore package that includes your room for two nights, breakfast daily, afternoon treats and two two-day passes to the Estate. If you wish to do a Candlelight tour also, let us know a date and time window and we will arrange it for you with Biltmore for an additional $10 per ticket charge.

So enjoy a stay at the 1899 Wright Inn, a three mile drive to the front gate (then about 3.5 miles back to the house) and we take care of your tickets for you so you don't have to go through the "will call" pick-up. While you're here, find out about the inn's connection to the Vanderbilts.

Whether by day or night, Christmas at the Biltmore is a wonderful Holiday experience.

Barbara & Bob Gilmore
Owners & Innkeepers

At our Asheville Bed and Breakfast, The 1899 Wright Inn, we were Home Again

You CAN go home again....

The 1899 Wright Inn and Carriage House is fortunate to have many returning guests. However, on Monday, we had an unusual and wonderful experience we wish to share with you.

Following the death of Mrs. Leva Wright in 1945, the house was purchased the following year from the bank handling her estate by Mr. and Mrs. James A. Banks. Mr. Banks was a plasterer who suffered from emphysema. Mrs. Banks ran the property as a boarding house.

In 1947-48 two young children, Larry and David, lived on the third floor of the house with their parents. On Monday, Larry and David came back to see where they had spent part of their childhood.

They walked around the third floor remembering where their bedroom was (now the Steven Van Winkle Room), their parent's room (now the Orr Room) the original bathroom up their is the one now used by the Orr Room. Their mother was a seamstress and had her sewing room in what is now the Hampton Room because of the light through those windows.

They can also remember an ice box at the top of the stairway. I can't help but think of that poor ice man carrying blocks of ice up those stairs every few days.

It's those small memories of the past that this wonderful house holds.

We're proud to maintain the house for those who can come back to remember or for those who want to step back into the past to a kinder, gentler time if only for a short while.

Life has taken David to California and Larry to homes in the southeastern United States. But relatives brought them here for a surprise visit back to their past. So maybe Thomas Wolfe....you can go home again, if only for a short visit.

Barbara & Bob Gilmore
Owners & Innkeepers

Halloween at the 1899 Wright Inn and Carriage House

What a fun Halloween we had here at the 1899 Wright Inn. We had a couple from the Netherlands, a lady from the UK and a gentleman from Ireland. It was interesting to learn of a similar custom celebrated in the Netherlands so we shared info on "International customs!" We also had two rooms of repeat guests, David and Dee from Raleigh, NC, and Winnie and Dean who are also from Raleigh, NC.

On Saturday evening, when the ghosts and goblins came out, Tina and Sam, our guests in the Celebration Suite sat on the porch with us visiting and watching all the children (and parents, some in costume) come to the door.

These kids were from hardy stock as they braved cool temperatures and a steady hard rain for most of the evening. We had about 175 children visit the Inn.

Maggie also sends her thoughts and Love to Cindy and Steven for her trick or treat surprise.

Barbara & Bob Gilmore
Owners & Innkeepers

Our Favorite Asheville Bed and Breakfast is The Wright Inn and Carriage House

The 1899 Wright Inn and Carriage House is very lucky to have a high percentage of loyal, repeat guests. So when I thought about this, I was determined to get the reasons from the next "returns" through our door.

It happened to be Carol and Tony from Louisville, KY who come to spend another few days with us.

They make frequent trips to Asheville because they love the area, the diversity of the people and the limitless things to do here. The scenery and mountains attract them.

Like many people, they found our website and like the look of the inn and the pricing. Tony and Carol find the inn beautiful, warm and inviting, love the decor and our attention to detail. Carol especially like finding her big "staff" mug waiting every morning.

They have stayed in four different rooms and we tease them about sleeping around. So far they have decided they like the Bosse-Bryan room best because it is cozy, bright and cheerful.

They are B&B folks and have run the gamut of being badgered by innkeepers or the opposite experience of "here's your room, here's your key." They feel we are friendly and helpful enough but also know when to bow out and leave them alone.

They look forward to our breakfast every morning and enjoy visiting with the wonderful people this inn attracts.

Tony and Carol will be back in April and we look forward to greeting them like the growing family they've become.

Barbara, Bob and "Maggie" Gilmore
Owners & Innkeepers

Guest Relations at my Asheville Bed and Breakfast, The 1899 Wright Inn and Carriage House

EARNING MY "KIBBLES"

I was waiting in the residence quietly snoozing, waiting for daddy to return from serving breakfast at the Inn. The door suddenly opened well before the time I expected him back.

But it was Daddy. He said, "Maggie, get your little Halloween scarf (I call it my little dress) straightened up, smooth down your eyebrows and come to the Inn! Your public awaits!!" I was so excited I kept falling over my own paws getting there.

It seems that during breakfast, guests, Sharon and Jessica from Tyrone, GA and Sharon and Steve from Orlando, FL each discovered that one of the many reasons they booked The 1899 Wright Inn was ME....Maggie! And they wanted to meet the star of the show, the head innkeeper, the leader of the pack.

They all came out on the front porch and there I was. I tried to contain my excitement and tried to remember my manners and be on my best behavior. Dad was getting really proud of me when Sharon stooped down to love on me, speaking to me in that soft voice that all dog lovers use to converse with animals and babies. Unfortunately, she's so little and I'm so big, I knocked her off balance. Lucky for me everybody was laughing.

Dad got the camera but by that time, Sharon and Jessica were gone. But here are some photos of me with my new best friends, Sharon and Steve.

Now I can tell mom and dad I'm doing my share to bring guest to my beautiful Asheville home and earning my keep.

Barbara & Bob Gilmore
Owners & Innkeepers

Fall Colors in the Blue Ridge Mountains and at the 1899 Wright Inn and Carriage House

So, is it too late to come to the mountains to enjoy the beautiful fall leaf colors and stay with us at the beautiful 1899 Wright Inn and Carriage House? In a word....NO!!

As I look out the window here at the Inn, there are currently not enough leaves on the ground to get a native Michigander into raking mode.

But at this time of year, leaf hunting and viewing success begins at the higher elevations where it is begging to peak.

Mt. Mitchell (Elevation 6089 feet) highest point east of the Rockies has a new viewing platform. Hiking trails abound, but dress for the colder weather at that elevations

Grandfather Mountain (Elevation 5946 feet) is the newest state park and a seventy mile drive from Asheville to view the mile high swinging bridge and wildlife that includes eagles, bear and cougar. Grandfather Mountain can also be accessed by the Blue Ridge Parkway which is a ninety mile drive. But because of the twisty roads and slower speeds, allow about two and a half hours for the trip.

Blue Ridge Parkway near Asheville at Craggy Pinnacle is elevated at 5892 feet and offers spectacular vistas. There are many pull-offs that allow you to sit and contemplate the views. There is the new Blue Ridge Natural Heritage Visitor's Center at Mile-post 384 or the Folk Arts Center near Asheville. Both have hiking trails.

Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest (Elevation 3500) is the last remaining virgin timber forest in the mountains. Some of the trees are one hundred feet high and over four hundred years old. And for all you literary fans, Joyce Kilmer is the author of the poem "I Think That I Shall Never See a Poem Lovely as a Tree."

Maggie Valley (Elevation 3020) thirty minutes west of Asheville sits beneath mountain ridges. Go to the high ridges to hike or see rare herds of elk at the Cataloochee Ranch.

Brevard, also known as the-- "Land of Waterfalls"(Elevation 2230 feet) features DuPont Forest with it's hiking trails and fishing streams. At Pisgah Crossroads take US 276 to Pishag National Forest following the Davison River and see Looking Glass Falls, Shining Rock, Sliding Rock, Cradle of Forestry, Fish Hatchery and the top of Mt. Pisgah (5721 feet) where you can dine at the Mt. Pisgah Inn and enjoy wonderful views.

Lake Lure, Black Mountain, Saluda, Green River Gourge and Hot Springs also offer spectacular drives, hiking and interesting activities.

So, "Fall for Asheville" and join us at The 1899 Wright Inn and Carriage House, by a cozy fire and let us help you plan some wonderful adventures so you can be out making memories.


Barbara & Bob Gilmore
Owners & Innkeepers

Don't forget me!!!

"Maggie"