Blowing Rock, NC (WNN) – A chapter of North Carolina history is coming to a close as the iconic Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock is set for demolition, making way for a new development that includes condominiums and a smaller hotel. Once one of the state’s oldest continuously operating hotels, the 133-year-old landmark is being dismantled as part of a larger redevelopment effort.
Demolition Begins, Redevelopment Underway
The demolition process is currently in motion, signaling the start of a major transformation for this beloved property. In February, the Blowing Rock Town Council approved a rezoning request that paved the way for the redevelopment. The approved plans will reduce the hotel’s original 88 rooms to just 40 and introduce eight duplex cottages and 12 condominiums. A new event venue and modern restaurant are also part of the updated design.
Alongside the new structures, the project includes essential infrastructure upgrades—151 new parking spaces and enhanced drainage systems to address long-standing flooding issues. The construction is expected to span three years, with town officials projecting the redevelopment could generate around $4,000 in property tax revenue per $1 million of investment.
A Storied Past
Opened in 1891 by the Green Park Company and led by Civil War veteran Major George Washington Findlay Harper, the Green Park Inn quickly became a symbol of hospitality and grandeur in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Over the years, it welcomed an impressive roster of guests: Annie Oakley, J.D. Rockefeller, Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Mitchell (who worked on Gone with the Wind while staying at the inn), and even musical acts like The Smiths. The hotel earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
From Restoration to Reimagining
In 2010, Eugene and Steven Irace purchased the deteriorating hotel and launched an ambitious restoration project, reopening it later that year with 88 guest rooms, updated event spaces, the Chestnut Grille, and the Divide Tavern—named after the Eastern Continental Divide that runs through the property. Despite their efforts, the cost of fully restoring and maintaining the aging structure—particularly the original 1890s wing—became overwhelming.
In July 2024, developers John Winkler, Bill Warden, and Will Miller entered into an agreement to purchase the inn. While the sale has not yet closed, Winkler has spearheaded the redevelopment, receiving unanimous approval from the Blowing Rock Planning Board for conditional rezoning.
Demolition crews have already begun tearing down sections of the historic inn, though it remains uncertain whether any part of the original structure will be preserved. The developers have promised that the new design will pay homage to the original 1890s architecture and preserve the historic character of the site, even if much of the structure is rebuilt.
A Town Reflects
As the walls come down, residents and longtime visitors are left with mixed emotions. Many support the redevelopment, seeing it as a much-needed investment in Blowing Rock’s future. Others mourn the loss of a cherished icon that stood for more than a century as a gathering place for generations.
While the physical structure of the Green Park Inn may soon vanish, its legacy endures. Whether through the new project’s design, or in the hearts of those who stayed there, the inn’s place in North Carolina’s cultural heritage is already firmly cemented.
