I'm allured by the ring of the English-sounding name and tantalizing descriptions of The Lion and The
Rose. My wander lust sends me to yet another B & B.
I find the old home enchanting the moment I walk into its welcoming hallway. It's a wintry day, and I hasten to the inglenook for warmth, just as horse-and-buggy travelers once did. I immediately find myself aglow all over. I like this place already.
Built circa 1895, the Queen Anne/Georgian style residence remains known as the Craig-Toms house. The stately home stands, encircled by a white picket fence, upon park-like grounds in the midst of Asheville's Montford Historic District, only minutes away from the Vanderbilt's famed Biltmore Estate.
In 1985, after being passed from owner-to-owner for over ninety years, the Craig-Toms House underwent a major restoration which transformed it into an elegant bed and breakfast inn. Lisa and Rice Yordy assumed ownership and became the resident innkeepers of The Lion and The Rose in 1995.
I become enamored with Winston, the Yordys' gregarious English Springer spaniel and a
former model, the instant we meet. And I definitely feel safer with Winston roaming around than I
would with a rose-bearing lion lurking about the premises.
Guests, arriving in the afternoon, find tea (or soft drinks) and a special treat awaiting them.
Pampering continues throughout one's visit, in every imaginable way--a pitcher of iced lemon water in
each room, turn-down service (with minted chocolates) at bedtime, terry cloth robes at shower time,
early coffee or tea at get-up time. Double parlors present additional areas to sit, unwind, and meet new
friends.
Breakfast is served each morning at 9 a.m. in the dining room. Fresh flowers adorn the dining room table, in addition to silver and English china. Lisa's gourmet breakfasts delight the eye as well as the palate. A favorite breakfast includes juice, succulent fruit with citrus dressing, Popovers Romanoff with fresh strawberries, breakfast sausages, chocolate/chocolate-chip muffins, coffee or tea.
The Marion Hall Room, named in honor of Lisa's mother, becomes my personal favorite. A
recently refurbished room, with a fireplace and a separate sitting area, it adjoins another guest room for
guests desiring a private place for visiting. The decor of the high-ceiling room is stunning with its
border-trimmed green walls, cranberry accent, bold white trim. A carved tiger oak bed diagonally fills
one corner, and Aubusson rugs enhance the original hardwood floors. Large windows, with decorator
Roman shades, enable guests to view the manicured front garden. The sitting area, a nook set in the
alcove formed by the bay window, features two wing chairs, draped with Chenille afghans. The
bedroom's color scheme flows into the private bath, along with more evidence of Lisa's creativity and
attention to detail.
Honeymooners relish the secluded bridal suite occupying the entire third floor. Laced with romance, the bedchamber adjoins a private balcony-for-two where a champagne toast might be exchanged beneath a starry sky or coffee shared at sunrise. The bathroom features a whirlpool tub and a walk-in shower, another opportunity for some "high style living."
When it's time to go, I scowl and shake a fist at Father Time. I fantasize about letting the world pass by while I snuggle down, in the cozy inglenook with Winston, and take a long winter's nap. I'll put that at the top of my to-do-soon list. It's something everyone should consider!
INN: The Lion & The Rose;
LOCATION: 276 Montford Ave.--Asheville, NC;
TEL: 1-800-546-6988 (reservations);
FAX: 704-285-9810;
E-mail: lion-rose@a-o.com;
ACCOMMODATIONS: 4 guest rooms w/private baths + bridal suite;
BREAKFAST: Full gourmet (+ aft. tea);
PARKING: Private, lighted, off-street;
RATES: $115-$195;
CREDIT CARDS: All major;
RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS: Cafe on the Square (704-251-5565) & The Market Place (704-252-4162);
SPECIAL RECOGNITION: Listed on National Historic Register; Griffin Award for historic restoration;
AB&BA-3 crowns, A+;
PUBLICATIONS: Blue Ridge Country;
WEB SITE: www.a-o.com/lion-rose
E-mail The INNside Scoop with your own comments on your stay at this inn!