We stayed on the Biltmore estate last weekend in Asheville. It was a last-minute choice as a kind of summer farewell long weekend and definitely a bit of a splurge, but well worth it. Spectacular place. I could stay there forever.
The estate (created by George Washington Vanderbilt – of the ultra-wealthy Vanderbilt family) was designed to be self-sustaining, with its own farming, livestock, dairy, winery, tradesmen, and immense size such that everything needed could be grown or produced onsite. It was also designed to be beautiful and restorative to those that visit, with very curated roads and vistas to discover. The property was purchased in 1888 and the house completed in 1895. Fun fact: At its largest, Biltmore encompassed 125,000 acres, an area often compared to 95,000 football fields. Much of this land later became Pisgah National Forest after Edith Vanderbilt sold 87,000 acres to the U.S. Forest Service.
There are a few places to stay on the estate, and you can also stay in Asheville and do a day visit (with a ticket purchase). By staying onsite though, we got trail access each day, and I brought the bikes, which was definitely a highlight just below doing the house tour and night time event (Luminere).
Beautiful spot.
Comments welcome!