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Biltmore is open all year, with every season offering something different. The home is most known for their magical holiday decor, which pays homage to the opening day of Biltmore back in 1895. You can experience the beauty of the 35-foot banquet hall Christmas tree or take their Candlelight Christmas evening tour. They started collaborating in 1878, when Hunt designed two summer homes for the family—The Breakers and Marble House, both in Newport, Rhode Island. George Vanderbilt grew up knowing Hunt as their “family architect,” according to Biltmore.com. For a more casual experience, choose the Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate, located next to Biltmore Winery.
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The loggia is decorated overhead with terracotta tiles set in a herringbone pattern. The limestone columns were carved to reflect the sunlight in aesthetically pleasing and varied ways per Vanderbilt's wish. The rusticated base is a contrast to the smooth limestone used on the remainder of the house. Magnificent gardens brimming with nature’s masterworks… a new exhibition of Chihuly’s masterworks in Amherst at Deerpark®. Discover a sparkling array of holiday ornaments, collectibles, plus festive décor and other unique-to-Biltmore items. Our Building Biltmore House exhibition explores the construction of George Vanderbilt’s magnificent...
Restaurants at Biltmore Estate
On the walls just outside the Winter Garden are copies of the Parthenon frieze. The Banquet Hall is the largest room in the house, measuring 42 ft × 72 ft (13 m × 22 m), with a 70-foot (21 m) high barrel-vaulted ceiling. The table can seat 64 guests and is surrounded by rare Flemish tapestries and a triple fireplace that spans one end of the hall.
Biltmore Estate Insider's Guide
The Biltmore Estate is just a few miles from downtown Asheville, in Biltmore Village, so it’s easy to visit if you spend a few days in and around the Blue Ridge Parkway. At Olmsted’s advice, Vanderbilt enlisted the help of Gifford Pinchot, a trained forester who developed a plan for the management and conservation of the forest land. This led to the establishment of the Birthplace of American Forestry. Today, Biltmore honors Vanderbilt’s vision and the work of Olmsted and Pinchot through environmental protection and sustainability. Now equipped with a vision and the land, George tasked famed American architect Richard Morris Hunt to design and build the home.
Spring Brings New Blooms, Exhibitions to Biltmore—Plus, a Major Offer - Charlotte magazine
Spring Brings New Blooms, Exhibitions to Biltmore—Plus, a Major Offer.
Posted: Wed, 03 Apr 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Who owns the Biltmore Estate?
The principal rooms of the house are located on the ground floor. To the right of the marbled Entrance Hall, the octagonal sunken Winter Garden is surrounded by stone archways with a ceiling of architecturally sculptured wood and multifaceted glass. The centerpiece is a marble and bronze fountain sculpture titled Boy Stealing Geese, created by Karl Bitter.
Biltmore also has special offers on tickets throughout the year, including a $5 discount for booking online and a U.S. military discount to save $8 on admission. One of the best tips for the Biltmore Estate is to plan your visit for a weekday. Especially during the high season, the Biltmore House can get quite busy on weekends. So, sometimes, these events will limit which outdoor areas you can explore. This article covers the history of the Biltmore, the best time to visit, and my special insider tips that will elevate your trip from ordinary to extraordinary.
In the 1880s, at the height of the Gilded Age, George Washington Vanderbilt II began to make regular visits with his mother, Maria Louisa Kissam Vanderbilt, to the Asheville area. He loved the scenery and climate so much that he decided to build a summer house in the area, which he called his "little mountain escape". His older brothers and sisters had built luxurious summer houses in places such as Newport, Rhode Island, the Gold Coast of Long Island, and Hyde Park, New York.
Helpful Tips for Visiting the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC
NC Tripping offers access to a huge audience with multiple advertising options. Because there are so many things to do at Biltmore, why not spend a night or more on-site? Three accommodation options include the Village Hotel, The Inn, or the Cottage on Biltmore Estate. For more info about Biltmore’s wine offerings, check the winery’s official site. If you’re at Biltmore during winter or a rainy day or both, an umbrella and warm clothes will help. But there is still plenty to see in the Conservatory if the weather is not ideal.
A Rich History
On the opposite end of the hall is an organ gallery that houses a 1916 Skinner pipe organ. Left unfinished with bare brick walls, the Music Room was not completed and opened to the public until 1976. From the historic house and its gardens and grounds to outdoor adventures, dining, shopping, and wine tastings, Biltmore offers something for everyone… all in one unforgettable place. The estate offers a discounted second-day visit for $25, which includes access to the gardens, grounds, and Antler Hill Village, though not the house. Sometimes during the winter, they offer a promotion for free second-day access.
Additional sections of the house can be seen with special guided tours. While there is so much to see, take time to appreciate the amazing art collection. Almost all of the priceless objects that you see throughout the house are from George and Edith Vanderbilt’s original collection. The largest room in the house is the Banquet Hall with a seven-story high ceiling and triple fireplace.
In Biltmore house, see more than 65 hand-decorated trees, including the 35-foot tree in the Banquet Hall. And, Antler Hill Village lights up with light displays outside and beautiful decorations inside Biltmore Winery. George Vanderbilt's 250-room castle is America's Largest Home and a top attraction in Asheville. Plan a visit to Biltmore House, explore 8,000 acres of grounds, or book a behind-the-scenes tour. Featuring an assortment of seasonal holiday décor, home accessories, and arts & crafts items, The Barn Door is located in historic Antler Hill Barn. Browse a variety of lush plants, garden accessories, and books in this garden shop located beneath Biltmore’s Conservatory.
And, the Cottage on Biltmore Estate is a historic accommodation offering a unique, private experience. Discover giant Easter eggs in the gardens, inside Biltmore House, and in Antler Hill Village! This estate tradition invites you and your kids to learn fun facts about the estate and experience its beauty as you search for 25 giant beautifully decorated eggs. A limited number of Easter Scavenger Hunt treat bags will be distributed from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Stressed by Congressional passage of income tax and the expensive maintenance of the estate, Vanderbilt initiated the sale of 87,000 acres (350 km2) to the federal government.
It was in Biltmore Village that the temporary railroad connected the main line of the Southern Railroad straight to the property. The train not only brought construction materials from the village, but also provided transportation for hundreds of workers, tradesmen, blacksmiths, and painters. The stonemasons (also known as the aristocrats of the labor force) were driven to Biltmore in passenger cars. To build a 175,000-square-foot château is no easy feat, especially in the late 1800s.
Just for ChildrenAt the Antler Hill Farm, explore farm life with chickens, roosters, goats, horses and sheep. For family-friendly ideas on the estate, see our Biltmore for Kids page. The estate today covers approximately 8,000 acres (13 sq mi; 32 km2) and is split in half by the French Broad River. The estate is overseen by The Biltmore Company, a trust set up by the family. The company is a large enterprise that is one of the largest employers in the Asheville area.
The house is still family-owned, as Vanderbilt’s daughter Cornelia and her husband John Cecil remain involved in the day-to-day operations. Since first opening its doors to the public in 1930, Biltmore House draws an estimated 1.4 million visitors every year, according to Dewey Property Advisors. With Hunt and Olmsted designing the exterior and gardens, it was George himself who spearheaded the interior design process. According to an article by Dozr.com, Vanderbilt’s team built not only a woodworking factory on-site, but also a brick oven to help with mass production. The brick kiln is said to have produced over 32,000 bricks a day, saving builders the efforts of shipping them to the site. “The construction site became a bustling city of its own, with workers occupying temporarily built offices, workshops, and sheds,” states a blog post written by Jean Sexton for Biltmore.com.
Inspired by the Vanderbilt tradition of sharing afternoon tea with guests, The Dining Room’s unique take on this elegant experience features Newby Teas, renowned as one of the world’s finest tea purveyors. Tea is served with such delights as fresh-baked scones with clotted cream, honey, and preserves, artfully prepared sweet and savory canapés, and finely cut tea sandwiches. To further enhance this welcome moment of leisure, indulge in a carefully crafted tea-infused cocktail, Mimosa, or Kir Royale.
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