Opposite of our RV -- Biltmore House and Gardens

Wednesday was field trip day of reunion and we chose Biltmore House and Gardens for our tour.  We were two of 100 who were able to go. This is the largest privately owned house in USA, with a 250 room chateau, completed in 1895 as a country retreat for George and Edith Vanderbilt.

Biltmore from the East Showing Some of the Gardens

George Vanderbilt loved the mountain vistas and soon purchased over 100,000 acres for home, fishing and hunting, horseback riding and forests to scientifically manage to produce income and maintain the view to the west. He then hired the two leading experts to design his home and gardens: Richard Morris Hunt known for creating large country houses and chateaus and Frederick Law Omstead to create a series of gardens (he designed NY's Central Park). It took four years to blast off the top of the mountain, create a modern village at the base for the over 2,000 workers who labored to build the chateau and gardens. He also hired Gifford Pinchot to survey the western estate and design a forestry program. Gifford left after three years to become the first Chief of the Forest Service.

Two Years into Building with Walls Going Up

Today, the estate is about 8,000 acres. Just before George died in 1914, he was in negotiations to sell 80,000 acres to the US Forest Service. His widow Edith completed the sale in 1920 for what became the Pisgah National Forest. 

George Owned Land As Far West As He Could See from theChateau

Our tour included a visit to the rarely seen west side of the estate to look at their forestry and farming programs, with opportunity to discuss with Biltmore staff about the businesses that help make the estate profitable. They actively harvest pine, oak and other hardwoods.

Our Tour Group in Biltmore Forest

The estate includes a well established winery (producing over one million bottles a year and yes we bought several bottles), two hotel properties on the grounds, six restaurants and several adventure tours of the estate by Segway, carriages, horses, or Land Rover.  They even raise all the lettuce and vegetables (in greenhouses) that is consumed on the estate at the restaurants, as well as organic beef and sheep.

View of Some of the Grape Vines on Estate

We have been to Biltmore House in the past, but it was more than twenty years ago. The family have expanded the areas of the house open to visitors and developed an extensive audio tour of nearly all of the rooms.  Over one million people come each year.

Formal Dining Room with Fireplaces and Massive Pipe Organ at Ends

Today, you can view four levels of the chateau; three floors of living areas and the basement where the kitchens, larders, bowling lanes, and swimming pool are located.  We only had about two hours to see the chateau and gardens, which is not enough.  We could not drive our own car in, so we walked through the house areas taking photos and asking questions of the guides in each room. 

Library with Over 10,000 books

Bedrooms took up most of the second floor, each with their own bathroom with hot and cold running water, which was quite modern for the early 20th century. The third floor was for guests, with bathrooms and their own sitting room, larger than most of our home in Oregon.

Guest sitting room or parlor

Chihuly glass exhibits were in the atrium of house as well as gardens. As usual, the vibrant glass sculptures add to the space and compliment the architecture. 

Chihuly Glass in Atrium Near Entrance of House

We captured this large blue exhibit next to house before moving out into the gardens. 

Vibrant Shades of Blue Next to Stone House

We looked forward to seeing is the Dale Chihuly glass exhibits around the Biltmore House and in the Gardens. Dale and wife visited with team to see all the possibilities to enhance the gardens during the summer, both in daylight and after dark.

Most of the Outdoor Sculptures Outside Were Over 20 feet tall

Glass Along the Garden Wall

We also had time to visit the stables area, which today has a variety of shops. So, we tasted chocolates, some wine and get tried the "best in the east" vanilla ice cream.  Chase Pickering was right, the Biltmore vanilla ice cream was very good!

It was cloudy and threatened rain for most of the day, but it held off until just about the minute we got back on the bus.  It then rained pretty heavily as we drove back to the hotel. Even the gargoyles at drain pipes were interesting.

A Tribute to Stone Masons Outside

All in all, it was a great day with some new sites and older memories.  We hope you enjoy this "tour".  We will share more about the Billy Graham Center in a different post.  Thanks for tuning in.

Neil and Pamela