MCLEAN, Va.—Hilton Worldwide has announced that The Asheville Foundry Inn in North Carolina will join Curio – A Collection by Hilton.
Construction of the new-build 92-room hotel at Eagle and South Market streets will preserve existing buildings in the downtown area to maintain the character and spirit of the local community. The Asheville Foundry Inn, Curio Collection by Hilton, is expected to open by December of 2016.
Historically known as the Foundry Buildings, the three original, contiguous buildings to remain as part of the development are recognized as some of the most significant structures in Asheville. Much of the steel used in the construction of buildings in the Asheville area was formed and created at this site. Along with two newer buildings on the site, The Foundry Inn will be comprised of these five connected buildings including a 100-seat restaurant, 3,500-square-foot lounge with a library and fireplaces, 3,600-square-foot luxury spa and fitness center, and about 3,000 square feet of functional meeting and event space.
Guestrooms will be designed and will give the guest multiple room types that are unique to exciting historic properties.
“Curio properties come in all shapes and sizes, and The Asheville Foundry Inn will be one of the most distinct,” said Matt Wehling, senior vice president, development—North America, Hilton Worldwide. “While it will be a new hotel, it will keep the inimitable look and feel of the buildings that have called the neighborhood home for many years.”
In the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, Asheville is the largest city in the region.
The Foundry Inn will live in the heart of Asheville. The region attracted George Vanderbilt to build the nearby Biltmore Estate in 1895, which today is the largest privately-owned house in the United States, drawing approximately one million visitors each year.
“Not only do we want to restore the historic fabric of these buildings, we want to create a quality project that represents the standard that people in Asheville expect,” said David Swentor, founding partner of developing group, Encore Lodging.
“Asheville has long been an escape from the heat for the people from Atlanta, Knoxville, Columbia and surrounding areas, and we hope to give people a reason to visit the cool air and beautiful foliage of the mountains at any time of year,” said David Tart, partner, Encore Lodging.
Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church sold its three properties on the site to Encore for $3.5 million as part of an effort to revitalize the neighborhood. The hotel will adjoin the historic Young Men’s Institute (YMI), a structure that was designed and built by the same tradesmen that built the Biltmore Estate. The YMI building dates back to 1894 and was the social gathering place for the skilled laborers that worked for years constructing George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore Estates.
“As we grow the Curio collection, we’re proud to also grow the communities in which our properties are based by adding to the character of existing neighborhoods and providing guests an unmatched experience,” said Dianna Vaughan, global head, Curio – A Collection by Hilton.
