George Vanderbilt, an heir to the Vanderbilt railroad fortune, decided to build his dream home in the Blue Ridge mountains of Asheville, and his Biltmore Estate has everything you would expect from a Gilded Age mansion. It look 6 years to build and was officially finished on Christmas Eve 1895. It had electricity and indoor plumbing from day one and 250 rooms. It sits on 8,000 acres.
George died at age 51 from appendicitis complications. His only child, Cornelia was 13. His wife Edith assumed the duties managing the estate.
The house was built for entertaining - one of my favorite things to do. Ladies changed their clothes up to 7 times each day. One outfit for breakfast, one for lunch, one for a walk in the gardens, one for afternoon tea, dinner, horseback riding, etc. i wouldn’t have the energy for it!
The winter garden welcomes visitors when they enter.
Especially designed for men - a billiards room, smoking room and library. Every wall and ceiling is exquisite!
Formal dining room- yes please!
Breakfast room
Living and sitting areas
Bedrooms - the beds seemed tiny.
Nursery
This house predates radio or television- so fun was created at home with an indoor bowling ally, exercise room and swimming pool.
Changing rooms for pool. I think there where 10 of them.
Kitchen, pantry, flower assembly room, laundry room and walk in refrigerator.
The conservatory housed exotic flowers and was maintained at 99% humidity.
Fall bloom in the garden,
These are loofah gourds growing.
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The hunting fields.
The Biltmore has a winery? Yes please!
We breezed through the arts district, downtown area and had lunch at the white duck. A young bartender at a distillery we were visiting recommended it and she didn’t steer us wrong! It was super yummy and a bit funky!
Bucket item complete - check!
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