BILTMORE ESTATE.....ASHVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

Biltmore Estate

Ashville, North Carolina

 George Vanderbilt, the son of William Vanderbilt and his wife Maria Louisa, was the youngest of 11 children. He took his first trip to Europe when he was ten years old. Throughout his life he traveled to Europe many times where he visited the great country homes of England and France.  Having lived most of his life in New York City, he longed to have a place of beauty and peace where he could rest, read, and entertain his friends.  

In 1884, he commisioned William Morris Hunt to design and oversee what would become Biltmore House. Hunt was a well known architect who had designed the facade for the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty.  Construction began in 1889 and the house was open for Christmas Eve in 1895.  George called his estate Biltmore--from Bildt the Dutch town of his ancesters and "more" which is an old English word for open, rolling land.

Beautiful red bud trees along the five mile approach to Biltmore
Today the house is surrounded by 25,000 Acres
It was originally surrounded by 125,000 Acres
100,000 Acres is now Pisgah National Forest 

Along the five mile Drive

Beautifully landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted

Olmsted was the landscape architect who designed 



 New York's Central Park

The Grand Entrance

The front Yard

Circular driveway to the left leads to the Home

View from the Front of the House

School Children waiting for their Bus

Front Door

View from the back of the House

Wisteria Arbor 

Arbor leading to the informal Gardens

Back Entrance to the Garden

George Vanderbilt married Edith Stuyvesant Dresser in 1898. Their only child, Cornelia, was born in 1900 and lived their until her death.  Her son, William Cecil owns and operates Biltmore house today.

Biltmore Estate has always been self sustaining with a working farm, dairy, and winery.  

It is open to the public 365 days a year.  No photography is allowed inside the home.