F. Scott Fitzgerald and His Asheville Blues
Asheville is the city with the saddest chapter in the life of author F. Scott Fitzgerald. While battling tuberculosis and wrestling with a once glorious career that had been flailing, he stayed at the Grove Park Inn in the mid-1930s to restore his body, revive his spirit, and renew his energies as a writer. Meanwhile, his wife, Zelda, lived at a psychiatric hospital in Asheville until she died.
Fitzgerald (1896-1940) is thought of as one of America’s greatest authors. So why did his life unwind so sadly?
We often read about people who had great success as young stars and then were forgotten. They stop getting parts, recording deals, and publishing contracts. Sometimes, the world heads a different direction and they struggle with their place within it. Sometimes, personal experiences rob attention from their work. Sometimes, choices made at the peak of their careers, when they saw no end to their popularity, caught up with them when they were older. Not only did they lose attention, but habits that seemed light and playful when they were stars became harmful to them as the years went on.
The Omni Grove Park Inn
Located at 290 Macon Avenue, the resort renamed The Omni Grove Park Inn continues to offer elegant hospitality to guests with fine tastes. Its website describes it this way: “Serving guests for over a century, The Omni Grove Park Inn welcomes you with a tradition of southern hospitality amidst the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Relax in our unique subterranean spa or enjoy a round of championship golf on our Donald Ross-designed course. When it’s time to dine, enjoy one of our four locally-sourced restaurants. Then, retreat to stylish rooms with stunning views and plush bedding. We know you’ll enjoy the classic comfort and modern convenience of our resort.”
More Fitzgerald Places To Visit
You can read more about the Fitzgeralds through our Alabama, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Minnesota pages.
This is the seventh stop on our North Carolina Author Adventures Trail.
Patricia Smart
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