F. Scott Fitzgerald's Legacy and Personal Struggles Explored in Asheville Stays
F. Scott Fitzgerald, a prominent figure in American literature and author of 'The Great Gatsby,' spent significant time in Asheville, North Carolina, during 1935 and 1936. He resided at the Grove Park Inn, occupying adjoining rooms (441 and 443) for sleeping and writing. During these stays, Fitzgerald grappled with personal challenges including alcoholism, financial difficulties, and declining health. His wife, Zelda Fitzgerald, also received psychiatric treatment at Asheville’s Highland Hospital starting in 1936. Despite these struggles, Fitzgerald continued to write, producing autobiographical essays that appeared in 'Esquire' in early 1936. His visits to Asheville also included an attempt to visit the childhood home of fellow novelist Thomas Wolfe, and Zelda Fitzgerald even stayed at Julia Wolfe's boardinghouse for a week. The rooms Fitzgerald used at the Grove Park Inn are now known as the F. Scott Fitzgerald Suite, and the hotel occasionally offers tours of these historic accommodations.
