Historic Pine Crest Inn Turns 100 Years Old

(PINEHURST, NC) - On Monday, owners and management of the Pine Crest Inn, located in the Village of Pinehurst, NC, revealed plans to celebrate its 100 Anniversary November 1.

After a 365-day countdown which began with a kick-off celebration on November 1, 2012, Pine Crest Inn will turn 100 years old on Friday, November 1, 2013. On that date, festivities will begin at 6:30 pm and will include a Bagpipe procession, welcome remarks, a dedication of a permanent Donald Ross Monument (partially funded by a grant from the  Village of Pinehurst's Community Appearance Commission) and a video tribute. At 8 p.m. , the Carmichael Stardust Legend continues with a one-hour special music performance by Randy Carmichael.

The Donald J. Ross bronze sculpture features a green marble base and is mounted on a granite pillar.  Renowned sculptor, Robert Shure was commissioned to create this likeness of Ross. In recent years, Shure also produced the Cy Young Award, the monument in the Ted Williams Tunnel in Boston, as well as the permanent memorial to Joe Dimaggio at Yankee Stadium.

Hoagy Carmichael  was an American Music Legend who composed the song “Stardust” in 1927 which was one of the most recorded songs in the 20th century. His repertoire also includes such hits as Georgia On My Mind, Skylark, and Riverboat Shuffle. Pine Crest Inn is honored to have Hoagy Carmichael’s son, Randy, perform on the evening of its 100th birthday.

The centennial festivities kicked off with an opening ceremony event a year ago, which included music and entertainment, speakers highlighting the history and recollections of Pine Crest Inn, and a video tribute.

Drew Gross, Resident Manager, states, “It has been a wonderful year of celebrating this historic occasion and we look forward to a memorable evening on the Inn’s official anniversary.”

The Pine Crest Inn, originally built in 1913 by Mrs. E.C. Bliss, was owned from 1921 to 1948 by golf architect Donald Ross of Pinehurst No. 2 fame. Throughout the past year, Pine Crest Inn has undergone continuous improvements including its newly named Ross Dining Room and additional landscaping in front of the hotel including new plantings and grass. “We have seen a huge influx of visitors coming to Pine Crest Inn this past year to experience the history and special ambiance of our hotel.  It has been wonderful to see so many new faces as well as our regular customers who come year after year.”

The Pine Crest Inn is perhaps best-known on a national level for its pub, Mr. B’s Lounge, which has is known as one of the country’s best 19 holes. With the men’s and women’s US Opens being held at Pinehurst in June 2014 in back-to-back weeks, Pine Crest Inn is preparing for the influx of tens of thousands of visitors to the area for those weeks.

The Village of Pinehurst was founded in 1895 by James Tufts and was designed by landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, who also designed  Central Park in New York City. Many credit the late Donald Ross, the former owner of Pine Crest Inn , with having a significant influence on Pinehurst becoming known as “The Home of American Golf,” having designed and renovated over 400 golf courses throughout the United States. He is the architect of Pinehurst’s No. 2 course, where both the 1999 and 2005 US Opens were held and where, for the first time ever, the 2014 Men’s & Women’s US Opens will be held in back to back weeks.

For more information, visit www.pinecrestinnpinehurst.com.

Contact: NEOhioGolf@yahoo.com