Biltmore Estate
The Biltmore Estate was completed in 1895. At the time of it’s construction it was just south of Asheville. The nearby village of Best was renamed Biltmore and became quite a hub for many of the artisans that were involved in the construction of the house. The Biltmore House itself was begun in 1888 and was designed by Richard Morris Hunt. This was constructed to be the home of George Washington Vanderbilt and is designed to be in the style of a French chateau. It’s the largest privately owned home in the United States at 175,000 Square Feet.
Biltmore Estate is a fairly sprawling space, the grounds were designed and planned by Frederick Law Olmstead. The House itself is not the only attraction. There are shops in the Stable area and the Stable Cafe as well. Amongst the shops have been toy and confectionery shops as well as finer collectibles. The gardens are close to the house and there is a plant shop at the conservatory.
Certain times of year have special themes at the Biltmore House and Gardens. Winter is one of my favorite times as the Christmas decorations (and candlelight tours) are really extraordinary. In the spring there is the Festival of Flowers which is also a must see event.
For many years, the main draw of visitors to the Biltmore Estate was the House itself, but the gardens seem to be more and more of a draw each year. The Conservatory is one of my favorite areas, although the azalea garden can be a dramatic display in season. One of the things I really appreciate about the gardens is tha there is something for most everyones taste. There are the formal gardens in the English style and then the less formal, more “earthy” natural areas towards the Bass Pond (beyond the azalea gardens.) I know many locals that have or have had season tickets so they could take the opportunity to go and walk through the gardens from time to time through the year.
The Winery at Biltmore has become quite an attraction in recent years as well. The winery is not within walking distance from the house and most will drive from their parking near the house to it. There are tours and wine tasting and The Bistro is a fantastic restaurant worth working into your visit here. Deerpark is another restaurant on the Estate with it’s own style.
One of the newer initiatives at Biltmore has been the Inn at Biltmore which is a Mobil Travel Guide four-star and AAA four-diamond 213-room hotel.