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Biltmore Estate
Address: 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803
Website: http://www.biltmore.com/
Phone Number: (800) 411-3812
Estate History
The Vanderbilt officially
opens Biltmore to friends and family in 1895. The finished home contains over
four acres of floor space, including 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65
fireplaces. It was here that Vanderbilt brought his bride, Edith, in 1898, and
where they celebrated the birth of their daughter, Cornelia, in 1900. Thirty
years later, it was here where Cornelia and her husband, John Cecil, first
invited the public to their home. Today, George Vanderbilt’s descendants
welcome guests as part of their family’s century old tradition of hospitality.
(as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+
First Floor
Third and Fourth Floors
Basement
1. Food & Beverage Policy
2. Pet Policy
3. Photo Policy
There are different types of tours you may choose when you visit the Biltmore house. We chose the Premium Biltmore House Tour included the Audio Guide Tour. You can choose also not to have an audio while touring around the house. This tours cost a bit of money which you can save by getting free brochures and reading yourself the self-printed description on each room in the house. There are numerous scenery that you can enjoy outside the mansion.
Cost: $150 per adult, $75 per child
Cost:
$17 per person
Cost: $10 per person
Neckloop telecoil couplers available.
Cost: $10 per person
Neckloop telecoil couplers available.
Gardens
You
may try a pastry and a cup of fair-trade coffee at the Bake Shop in the Stable
Courtyard. Savor lunch in Biltmore’s restaurants. During the winter time season
make sure to have ample amount of warm clothing with you because the breeze is
freezing.
Biltmore Estate
Address: 1 Lodge St, Asheville, NC 28803
Website: http://www.biltmore.com/
Phone Number: (800) 411-3812
Biltmore Estate is a very popular tourist attraction in Asheville,
North Carolina. This is a family residence and has continued to be operated as
a historic house museum, with increasing portions of the house opened for viewing.
We visited and took advantage of the US non-working holiday in the month of
October 2014, drove five and a half hours of driving from our place going to this
very famous charm large private estate of Asheville. It was one of the largest
homes built in 1895 and we learned about the technologically advances during
this era and the people who maintained the estate and lived there.
It has a lot of things to do in the estate such as outdoor
activities, in depth guided tours, hiking trails, the winery, four stars
accommodations or simply relaxing in very beautiful surroundings nestled in the
beautiful 8,000 acre Blue Ridge Mountain backyard. We recommend a full day or
at least eight hours tour to enjoy everything your admission includes plus time
for great dining and unique shopping experience. The estate was designated a National
Historic Landmark in 1964, and remains a major tourist attraction in Western
North Carolina with almost 1 million visitors each year.
Biltmore Visiting
Tips
- We suggest on arriving earlier times to avoid longer lines in the ticketing area
- We recommend a full day or at least eight hours tour to enjoy everything your admission includes plus time for great dining and unique shopping experience
- A car is required for travel between locations on the estate
- Take your time exploring during your vacation at Biltmore. Plan to spend the day, or perhaps two.
- Make sure to have a very comfortable walking shoes so you'll enjoy walking around the mansion and its surrounding facility
- (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+ Saturdays are the busiest days. The most crowded days of the year are Saturdays in April, May, October, November, and December
- Bring a picnic or stop by the Ice Cream Shop outside the Biltmore House to purchase a picnic to go. There are many great picnic spots on the Estate
- If you arrive on the estate after 4:00 PM, your ticket can be validated for the next day at the Reception & Ticket Center. And you can usually add a day for $10
- The grounds are perfect for walking your pets, but please make sure to keep them securely leashed at all times. Pets are not allowed inside Biltmore mansion or other estate buildings such as the winery, restaurants, and shops
- Each guest is assigned a reservation time to tour the Biltmore mansion on busy days (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+
Estate History
Biltmore
story began in 1888 where George Vanderbilt, a grandson of famed industrialist
and philanthropist Cornelius Vanderbilt and youngest son of William Henry
Vanderbilt first make regular visits to Asheville, North Carolina area. A short
visit to the Blue Ridge Mountains with his mother immediately sparks
Vanderbilt’s imagination. He fell in love with the scenery and he has found the
perfect location for his country home.
In 1889, the construction
of Biltmore House begins and completed in the year in 1895 for a 250-room
French Renaissance chateau residential architecture. Over a six-year period, an
entire community of craftsmen comes together to create America’s premier home
and the environmental wonderland that surrounds it.
Biltmore House and Gardens
Biltmore has four acres of
floor space and a total of 250 rooms in the house including 33 bedrooms for
family and guests, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, three kitchens and 19th-century
novelties such as electric elevators, forced-air heating, centrally controlled
clocks, fire alarms and an intercom system. The Banquet Hall is the largest
room in the house, measuring 42 feet wide and 72 feet long, with a 70-foot-high
barrel-vaulted ceiling. The table could seat 64 guests surrounded by rare
Flemish tapestries and a triple fireplace that spans one end of the hall.
Second Floor
The second floor is accessed by the cantilevered Grand Staircase of 102 steps that spirals around a four-story, wrought-iron chandelier holding 72 light bulbs. The Second Floor Living Hall is an extension of the grand staircase as a formal hall, portrait gallery; several large-scale masterpieces are displayed and 10,000 books in the library. Located nearby in the south tower is George Vanderbilt's gilded bedroom with furniture which connects to his wife's oval shaped bedroom in the north tower.
Second Floor
The second floor is accessed by the cantilevered Grand Staircase of 102 steps that spirals around a four-story, wrought-iron chandelier holding 72 light bulbs. The Second Floor Living Hall is an extension of the grand staircase as a formal hall, portrait gallery; several large-scale masterpieces are displayed and 10,000 books in the library. Located nearby in the south tower is George Vanderbilt's gilded bedroom with furniture which connects to his wife's oval shaped bedroom in the north tower.
Third and Fourth Floors
The third floor has a number of guest rooms with names that
describe the furnishing or artist that they were decorated with. The fourth
floor has 21 bedrooms that were inhabited by housemaids, laundresses, and other
female servants. Also included on the fourth floor is an Observatory with a
circular staircase that leads to a wrought iron balcony with doorways to the
rooftop where Vanderbilt could view his estate.
Basement
Guests of the estate could enjoy other activities that were found
on the basement level including an indoor 70,000-gallon (265,000-litre and 265-cubic
meter) heated swimming pool with underwater lighting, one of the nation's first
bowling alleys installed in a private residence and a gymnasium with once
state-of-the-art fitness equipment. The service hub of the house is also found
in the largest basement in the US, as the location for the main kitchen, pastry
kitchen, rotisserie kitchen, walk-in refrigerators that provided an early form
of mechanical refrigeration, the servants' dining hall, laundry rooms and
additional bedrooms for staff. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+
Estate Policies: Biltmore
is a privately owned property and there are policies you should be aware of. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+
1. Food & Beverage Policy
Outside food and beverage is not permitted in Antler Hill Village
or Biltmore House areas, including the Front Lawn of Biltmore House, Stable
Courtyard, and South Terrace. We invite you to visit Guest Services for
suggested picnic locations. No outside alcohol is ever permitted on Biltmore
grounds.
2. Pet Policy
You won’t have to leave anyone behind. The grounds are perfect for
walking your pets, but please keep them securely leashed at all times. Pets
(except service dogs) are not allowed in any building. All pets must be leashed
on estate grounds for their own safety as well as the comfort of our other
guests. Please be courteous of others and pick up after your pet.
A very limited number of outdoor, unattended pet kennels are
available at Biltmore. They are self-service and available on a first-come,
first-served basis. If you are interested in using a kennel, please see a
parking host for kennel information upon arrival on the estate.
3. Photo Policy
· Inside Biltmore House:
Photography, videotaping, sketching, and cell phone use are not
permitted within Biltmore House.
· Outside Biltmore House:
Taking photographs of
the exterior of Biltmore House and grounds or sketching images of the house or
estate grounds is permitted for personal use only. All commercial uses are
prohibited without express written consent. Recording, filming, photography, or
taping of any concert is strictly prohibited.
· Aerial Photography:
Aerial photography of
Biltmore House is prohibited without written consent. Use of unmanned aerial
vehicles or drones while on Biltmore property is prohibited.
· Commercial Photography:
All commercial uses of photography or video is prohibited without
written permission.
· Wedding Photography:
Taking wedding photography or
portraits on the property is prohibited without previous written permission.
The image, logo, and name of
Biltmore are registered trademarks and cannot be used by outside parties
without permission from The Biltmore Company.
There are different types of tours you may choose when you visit the Biltmore house. We chose the Premium Biltmore House Tour included the Audio Guide Tour. You can choose also not to have an audio while touring around the house. This tours cost a bit of money which you can save by getting free brochures and reading yourself the self-printed description on each room in the house. There are numerous scenery that you can enjoy outside the mansion.
1. Self-Guided Visit of Biltmore House
Your admission includes a self-guided visit to Biltmore House.
Stroll through America's largest home on a marked route, assisted by
knowledgeable guides along the way. This tour takes 1.5 to 2 hours, depending
on your pace. You'll drink in all the amazing sights of architecture, artwork,
and much more from the Gilded Age. Also includes your free visit to Antler Hill
Village and Winery, with free Winery tour and tasting. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+
2. Premium Biltmore House Tour
Tour the house for two hours with a guide assigned exclusively to
you. Include areas seen in the Butler’s Tour, Architect’s Tour, and House
Tours. Offered daily at 10:00 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:00 PM. Two-day advance reservations
are required. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+
Cost: $150 per adult, $75 per child
3.
Rooftop Tour
Enjoy amazing views from rooftops and balconies and get a closer
look at the design and construction of Biltmore House with this 60-minute
guided tour of areas not on the regular house visit. Offered daily at 10:00 AM,
11:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 12:00 PM, 1:30 PM, 2:00 PM, 2:30 PM, and 3:00 PM. Advance
reservations are required. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+
Cost: $17 per person
4.
NEW Behind-the-Scenes
Guided Upstairs – Downstairs Tour
In this 60-minute guided tour, descend the back stairs to explore
servant life at Biltmore. Discover cutting-edge technology that kept America’s
largest home humming. Visit the domains of the butler, head housekeeper, and
lady’s maid, and then continue on to a suite of guest rooms to learn about
grand house parties hosted by the Vanderbilt’s. Offered daily at 10:00 a.m.,
10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 2:30 p.m., and 3:00
p.m. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+
Cost: $17 per person
5. Guided Biltmore House Tour
On this guided 90-minute tour, hear interesting stories about
parties in the house, information on artifacts, personalities of friends who
visited, and ways the family spent time on the estate. Offered 3:30 PM daily.
Advance reservations are required. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+
A. Audio Guide to Biltmore House
Capture the feeling of being guided through Biltmore’s grand rooms
by our curators and hosts. On this 90-minute tour, you’ll learn about the
Vanderbilts, their guests, and their servants, in addition to the surrounding
architecture, design, and artwork. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+
Cost: $10 per person
Neckloop telecoil couplers available.
B. Kids’ Audio Guide to Biltmore House
This fun and entertaining 90-minute tour is narrated by Cedric,
the Vanderbilts’ Saint Bernard. Cedric guides young guests through amazing
rooms in Biltmore House, sharing stories about the Vanderbilts and living in
America’s largest home. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+
Cost: $10 per person
Neckloop telecoil couplers available.
Gardens
The Biltmore Gardens has
75 acres of formal garden and landscaping. Wanting the best, Vanderbilt
envisioned a park like setting for his home and employed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to
design the grounds. Frederick Law Olmstead designed New York Central Park but
considered Biltmore his crowning achievement. He constructed an Italian formal
garden, a walled garden, a shrub and raised garden, fountains and a
conservatory with individual rooms for palms and orchids. There was also a
bowling green, outdoor tea room, pools and a tree lined esplanade to
incorporate the European statuary that Vanderbilt had brought back from his
travels. There are varieties of roses grown in the garden.
The glass–roofed
Conservatory, nurtures flowers and plants for Biltmore House and tender bedding
plants for the gardens. Its central room is a Palm House where a large
collection of palms, ferns, and other foliage plants thrive year round.
The three pools are filled
with koi and goldfish, as well as many varieties of aquatic plants, including
waterlillies, elephant ears, and papyrus. But the stars of the show are the
Victoria Water Lilies, which look like giant floating cake pans with spines and
bear night–blooming, pineapple–scented flowers. Less formal than the Italian
Garden, the four–acre Shrub Garden is a rich, picturesque landscape with
hundreds of woody plants. Adjacent is the largest of the Biltmore gardens, the
Azalea Garden is renowned for its extensive collection of native and hybrid
azaleas. These 15–acre garden features more than 1,000 azaleas grow alongside
magnolias, dogwoods and conifers.
Biltmore is known for its
annual spring "Biltmore Blooms festival of flowers". Almost 100,000
tulips and other spring bulbs turn the seasonal beds around the estate into
carpets of color. Hundreds of vibrant chrysanthemums, salvias fill the Walled
Garden each fall and the sunflowers grow up to 6 feet tall with three blooming
times this year – early June, early July and early September. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+
Early April
Darwin Hybrid Tulip varieties begin blooming in the Walled Garden and Estate Entry. Other estate blooms include early flowering shrubs and trees, forsythia, spirea, magnolia, and flowering cherries.
Darwin Hybrid Tulip varieties begin blooming in the Walled Garden and Estate Entry. Other estate blooms include early flowering shrubs and trees, forsythia, spirea, magnolia, and flowering cherries.
Mid-April
Darwin Hybrid Tulips are usually at peak in the Walled Garden and Estate Entry. Other estate blooms include spring bulbs, dogwoods, and redbuds.
Darwin Hybrid Tulips are usually at peak in the Walled Garden and Estate Entry. Other estate blooms include spring bulbs, dogwoods, and redbuds.
Late April
Single late tulips fill the Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds, until the last week when poppies, snapdragons, and pansies are planted. Other estate blooms include hybrid azaleas and various flowering shrubs.
Single late tulips fill the Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds, until the last week when poppies, snapdragons, and pansies are planted. Other estate blooms include hybrid azaleas and various flowering shrubs.
May
In bloom is poppies, snapdragons, and pansies in Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds. Other estate blooms include native azaleas (first week is usually the peak), and various flowering shrubs.
In bloom is poppies, snapdragons, and pansies in Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds. Other estate blooms include native azaleas (first week is usually the peak), and various flowering shrubs.
Late May - Late
September
Summer annuals fill the Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds. Other estate blooms include roses and perennials and lush perennial borders in the Walled Garden, Winery and Antler Hill Village.
Summer annuals fill the Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds. Other estate blooms include roses and perennials and lush perennial borders in the Walled Garden, Winery and Antler Hill Village.
June - August
In addition to summer annuals, other estate blooms include native rhododendron and perennials.
In addition to summer annuals, other estate blooms include native rhododendron and perennials.
Mid-September - October
Hundreds of vibrant chrysanthemums and salvias fill the Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds.
Hundreds of vibrant chrysanthemums and salvias fill the Walled Garden, Estate Entry, and Winery beds.
Mid-Late October
Fall foliage colors.
Fall foliage colors.
Dining
Lunch
or dinner, casual or refined dining experience, the choices are delicious with
menus inspired by the estate-raised and locally grown food source. They have
their own market garden supplied fresh produce for their meals. Their farm and
dairy products were one of the finest in the region and the name Biltmore
became synonymous with quality and excellence.
Cedric's
Tavern in Antler Hill Village is another delicious option for lunch. Enjoy
English-style pub fare and Cedric's very own beer, or a local brew, as you
enjoy views of the Village Green.
Shopping
Biltmore
gifts and souvenirs varies from apparel, bath and body, baskets, jewelry, wine
and gourmet food, wine accessories, books, movies and music stationery,
training DVD, boxes and toys collectibles, home decors such as artisan crafts,
decorative accents furniture, wall art and décor. There are also table top and
kitchen linens, kitchen accessories, china and glassware’s. They have also
garden decors and accessories, Christmas decors, seasonal accents and
souvenirs.
Winery
Part of the admission ticket to the estate is the winery guided
tour and complimentary wine tasting. You’ll learn about the history of this
building as the estate’s dairy, and its new role as the most visited winery in
the country. Consider taking the Red Wine & Chocolate Seminar, Vine to Wine
Tour or the Biltmore Bubbles Tour, to round out your Biltmore Wine experience. Entrance
to the Biltmore Winery is in Antler Hill Village. It's also adjacent to the Inn
at Biltmore Estate.
From Antler Hill Village, you can tour around the historic cellars
to an impressive tasting room where gracious wine hosts guide you through a
complimentary wine tasting. Also grape juice is available so everyone can
enjoy. You’ll learn about the red wine making process and why chocolate and red
wines are considered a natural pairing, experience the entire process of making
sparkling wine, from grape selection to bottling. You may also dine in the
winery, gather around the open kitchen inside the Bistro and watch chefs at
work, creating fresh dishes for you with food grown right on the estate. Or, if
you're in the mood for dining al fresco, ease into one of the outdoor tables at
the Arbor Grill and order up savory appetizers, gourmet sandwiches, and
entrees made with locally-grown ingredients. Note: Arbor Grill is weather
dependent. (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+
Biltmore Wine Tasting
Tips (as cited in Biltmore, 2014)+
- Feel free to ask your host questions about the wines
and wine tasting.
- Wine tasting is a social activity, so feel free to talk
about what you see, smell, and taste.
- Notice the clarity of good wines as you hold them to
the light.
- Place your nose at the rim of the glass and inhale
deeply to catch the wine's "bouquet."
- Hold the wine on your tongue a few seconds; then
whistle in to take advantage of additional flavors released by exposure to
the air.
- Notice the more full-bodied taste of red wines and the aftertaste
that lingers in your mouth, a sure sign of a good wine.
- Most of all have fun!
Happy
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