On The Road with Barb and Brad: Biltmore Estate

I have finally found the home into which I will settle down and retire (see photo above). It has 4 acres of floor space, 250 rooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, three kitchens, two indoor bowling alleys, and an indoor swimming pool. The surrounding grounds include a 250 acre wooded park, five pleasure gardens, and a fully operating winery. Currently owned by the Vanderbilt family, I’m sure that they wouldn’t mind me living there. I don’t take up too much space and would hardly be noticed. Plenty of room to unobtrusively park the motorhome and jeep.

Oh well, I can dream....

We did visit the estate and it is amazing! The structure is built of stone and steel, no framing of wood. It was designed as such to be fireproof. The interiors are paneled in rich woods and silks, so they could burn, but the structure is solid. George W. Vanderbilt III completed this building and welcomed his family and friends on Christmas Eve 1895. It has running water and electricity, a rarity in its day. Mr. Vanderbilt engaged two distinguished designers of his day: Richard M. Hunt, the architect that designed this home and several other Vanderbilt mansions along with the main facade of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the pedestal for the statue of Liberty; Frederick L. Olmsted was the landscape architect that designed all of the gardens and grounds on the then 125,000 acre estate. Olmsted was also the designer of Central Park in New York City and the US Capital grounds. I can’t begin to cover the history of the place, but suffice it to say, it is still owned by the Vanderbilt family and now they allow the public to see how the estate looked at the beginning of the 20th Century. We spent about 6 hours touring, but could have easily spent days. Just a word of warning, if you want to see this place, bring your wallet! Admission is not cheap and all but the self guided tour costs upwards of $17 per person. (You can’t see everything on the self guided tour either. You have to take several of the other offered tours to see everything.) Interior photography was not allowed, so the interior shots are from a pictorial guide we bought. That being said, it is a fascinating step back in time and history to tour this estate. The gardens were just coming to life. The azalea bushes were in full, bright bloom. The tulips were just finishing and the roses were just beginning budding. It was fun to just wander and soak up nature.

On the approach road from the gate to the main house. This is a three mile approach where there is a different landscaping feature at every turn (by design).

The former stables now are stalls in the Stable Restaurant. Cute idea.

Exterior of the former stables.

The main entry to the home. Note the angled windows on the left. These follow the curved Grand Staircase that leads to upper rooms.

The Vanderbilt initial is prominent in several places on the house. Makes it a possible sticking point for resale.

Inside the banquet hall. Seven stories tall! Notice the triple fireplace.

The game room where the men would go for sport and socialization. The custom made billiard tables have three sheets of slate each weighing 900 lbs apiece.

The library. Notice it is two stories high, with a spiral staircase to get to the upper level. The walkway goes behind the fireplace.

The indoor pool (without water). The lights around the bottom edge of the pool are original.

View from the covered walkway out back.

The pergola walkway to the Gardens.

The Conservatory and walled garden.

Shrub garden entrance.

Entrance to Azalea garden.

Just some of the Gardens.

Then just a short three mile drive away is the old farm and Dairy. This is also the location of the Winery, newly built Inn and restaurants.

Inside the stables.

The Barn/Stables were unique as it was built as a part of a large oval wall where the animals could be brought into if necessary. You could also drive into and out of the barn easily to facilitate all manner of farm support deliveries.