This year marks 20 years since The Grove Park Inn began The National Gingerbread House Competition. It will also serve as a kick off to a much larger milestone – the 100^th anniversary of the opening of The Grove Park Inn.

“This an unprecedented time in the history of The Grove Park Inn,” said Ron Morin, Vice President and General Manager of The Grove Park Inn. “Our Gingerbread Competition began as a small, mostly local event and has now grown to become one of the country’s most beloved holiday traditions and a serious competition to many who seek the title of grand prize. We thought it befitting that The Gingerbread Competition serve as the kick off to a year of special events and momentous occasions as we celebrate the 100^th birthday of our grand hotel in 2013.”

Entry forms and rules are now available on www.groveparkinn.com. The deadline for entries is November 12, 2012 and judging will take place on November 17. The display of Gingerbread winners will run from November 20^th – January 2, 2013. The public is invited to view the displays any Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. There is a $10 parking fee.

The grand prize winner will receive over $7,500 dollars in cash and prizes. The Grove Park Inn sent the governors of each state an invitation encouraging their residents to enter with the hopes of having each state represented this year.

A new award of $1,000 will be presented to the competitor who traveled the farthest distance. Other categories include, Adult, Teen, Youth and Child. All the details can be found on the Grove Park Inn's website.

The resort anticipates the number of entries to exceed last year’s 200 participants, as a result, it's increasing the grand cash prize to $5,000.

KSL Partners acquired The Grove Park Inn on May 1, 2012. The Grove Park Inn became the third National Historic Landmark property in the KSL collection, joining the ranks of two other iconic hotels, Hotel Del Coronado in CA and The Homestead in VA. Founded in 1992, KSL Resorts manages nine time-honored resorts with outstanding recreational amenities including spa, golf, tennis and ski. Each is refined yet unpretentious, rich in legacy and genuine in service. The AAA Four-Diamond Grove Park Inn will undergo a $25 million dollar restoration and renovation. For more information, visit www.groveparkinn.com, follow the resort on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ewgrove or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groveparkinn.