Biltmore House: Grounds, Garden & ForestOther Biltmore articles:
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December 2009
All photos & illustrations by Pat Johns ©2009 - present
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From the start, Vanderbilt wanted the estate to be self-sufficient. He added a dairy, a poultry farm and a "market" farm where they raised corn and oats. Finally, he worked with his landscape architect Frederick Law Olmstead to develop and preserve the grounds and to selectively harvest trees. 
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Today's Biltmore Estate earns its revenues from tourism, wine and other goods marketed with the Biltmore name.
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The Biltmore Company is one of the largest employers in Asheville. One visit to the estate will make obvious the number of gardeners, retail clerks, tour guides and maintenance workers needed daily to maintain the facilities and make the guests feel welcome.
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According to the attendants at the visitors' center the grounds of the estate are wide open to visitors. Photos are allowed everywhere except inside the house. Well-tended walking trails lead to the ponds, gardens and buildings throughout and roads are clearly marked between the major sites of the estate. 
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The Visitors' Center |
Whether you arrive with yours tickets in hand or not you should stop by the Visitors' Center. Attendants stand waiting to answer your questions and make a reservation for you for your house tour if you have not already done so.
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The ConservatoryNot far from the house are the Walled Garden and Conservatory, also designed by Richard Morris Hunt. Today they continue to provide flowers and greenery for the house and other facilities.
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In the 1970s William Cecil, George Vanderbilt's grandson, began to consider the possibility of a Biltmore winery and in the early years the wine was produced in the lower level of the conservatory. However, his first winemaker was an estate handyman and their first efforts yielded poor results. A beautiful label for the bottles was designed and these first wines were bottled. Of these first wines, Cecil said: (The labels) made for a pretty good looking bottle of wine. . . just don't drink it."
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Wine production was eventually moved into its own facility and a gift shop was added on the lower level of the conservatory.
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The Biltmore Inn
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If you would like to spend some time on the Biltmore Estate you can stay at the Biltmore Inn. Their website states that their room rates vary from $189 - $379 per night in January, February and March to $299 - $599 per night the remainder of the year. 12-month Biltmore Estate pass holders receive small discounts on these prices. Nice accommodations at lower rates are available at hotels in nearby Biltmore Village. The Biltmore Estate works together with local Asheville hotels to create "packages" that include a stay at the hotel and admission to the Biltmore Estate. |
Deer ParkYou can see the deer park with a carriage ride or a guided horse trail ride. Carriage rides last approximately 45 minutes. The renovated Lioncrest at Deerpark is available for weddings and other group events. Continue the story . . . |
 
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Other Biltmore articles:
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