Biltmore House (2024)

FAQs

Biltmore House? ›

George Vanderbilt's Country Estate

Captivated by the area's natural beauty, he slowly began purchasing land, ending up with 125,000 acres for what would become his country estate. Determined to make this a self-sustaining home, George enlisted architect Richard Morris Hunt to design and build the 250-room château.

George Vanderbilt's Country Estate

Captivated by the area's natural beauty, he slowly began purchasing land, ending up with 125,000 acres for what would become his country estate. Determined to make this a self-sustaining home, George enlisted architect Richard Morris Hunt to design and build the 250-room château.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) – Tax appraisers in North Carolina have put a price tag on the iconic Biltmore House, the land it sits on and related development: nearly $300 million.

Find Your Perfect Trip

With so much to experience and discover, count on spending at least one full day on the estate. To enjoy even more of what Biltmore has to offer, consider a two-day visit that includes an overnight stay at one of our splendid estate properties.

Though the family stopped living in the mansion in the 1950s, it is still owned and run as a tourist attraction by the fourth generation of Vanderbilt descendants.

Its scale continues to be astounding: the house contains more than 11 million bricks; the massive stone spiral staircase rises four floors and has 102 steps. Through its center hangs an iron chandelier suspended from a single point, containing 72 electric light bulbs.

Some reports indicate a family member objected to the plan, but there is no clear indication of what truly happened. Unfortunately, one confirmed tragedy did strike in 1914 when George unexpectedly passed away following an appendectomy.

To dine on the estate, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate's splendid overnight properties.

Complimentary tickets are valid for one daytime visit and include a self-guided visit to Biltmore House (advance reservation required) and access to our gardens and grounds, Antler Hill Village & Winery, shopping, dining, outdoor activities, and more.

The Vanderbilt family fortune was once equal to $185 billion. As a well-known journalist and author, Cooper has a net worth of about $50 million in 2023, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He also collects quite a salary — $12 million annually (estimated).

How long does it take to walk through Biltmore? ›

Question:How long does it take to tour the estate? Plan on spending at least one full day at Biltmore. Two days are recommended because there is so much to see and do on our 8,000-acre estate: the house, gardens, Winery, working farm, and a variety of outdoor activities, shops, and exceptional dining options.

For The Dining Room at The Inn, Resort Elegant attire* is requested for dinner: slacks, dress shirt, dress, suit jacket and/or suit. Resort Casual attire is appropriate for breakfast in The Dining Room, as well as for all meals at all other estate restaurants.

Biltmore is a driving estate and we highly recommend that you have your own vehicle during your visit. A daytime admission ticket includes a self-guided visit through Biltmore House as well as access to the gardens and Conservatory, Antler Hill Village and Farm, and the Winery for a tour and tasting.

Gloria Vanderbilt is their daughter. The owner of Biltmore Estate, William Vanderbilt Cecil, is a cousin "removed a time or two," Sims said. Bottom line: "Anderson Cooper does not have any ownership in, or get any special privileges at, Biltmore Estate," Sims said, "although we would love to have him visit."

Richie Rich

In 1994, America's Largest Home® served as the sprawling estate of the world's richest comic book family. Richie Rich featured many of interior shots of Biltmore House, and some rooms were left largely unaltered during filming–even paintings of Vanderbilt family members were prominently featured.

Designed both for aesthetics and hospitality, Biltmore's hidden doors, such as the one pictured above in the Billiard Room, were designed to create a seamless appearance but provide access for staff providing service and convenience for guests; in this case, gentlemen who wanted to retire to the Smoking Room after a ...

Today, Biltmore is still family owned and operated under George Vanderbilt's mission of preservation through self-sufficiency – a philosophy embraced before the first stone was ever placed.

Reservations are required every day for all guests and Biltmore Annual Passholders for entry to Biltmore House. Please reserve your house entry time online or over the phone when you purchase your tickets. Guests who arrive without a Biltmore House Reservation cannot be guaranteed Biltmore House entry.

Biltmore House- 4th floor-Servants bathrooms- above Library wing- unrestored and unchanged- each side of the 4th floor has 2 toilet rooms and 1 bathtub room for use by the 18 servants bedrooms on 4th floor.

The Biltmore Hotel was at the height of its popularity during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Many famous actors and actresses stayed at the hotel over the years, including Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, and Clark Gable.

What movie was filmed at the Biltmore pool? ›

The creepy Biltmore pool…a scene from Cruel Intentions was filmed there.

The pool has no filtration, circulation or chemicals. After three days and the biology experiment of heated pool water – they had to drain the pool, clean it and then refill and reheat for the next use. Sadly it no longer holds water but is there for all to see on the tour of the Biltmore Estate.

If denim is your preference, dark denim is appropriate. *Shorts, tank tops, flip-flops, and faded denims are not appropriate nor permitted.

What does a complimentary ticket include? Complimentary tickets are valid for one daytime visit and include a self-guided visit to Biltmore House (advance reservation required) and access to our gardens and grounds, Antler Hill Village & Winery, shopping, dining, outdoor activities, and more.

Inside Biltmore House

Taking photographs by cell phone or cameras, without flash, is permitted on the self-guided tour for personal use only. No commercial photography is allowed. Photography is not permitted on specialty tours inside Biltmore House.

Only clear, plastic water bottles are permitted inside Biltmore House. Outside alcohol and tailgating—including the use of tents, grills, multiple camping chairs/tables, and large coolers—are not permitted on estate grounds.

Join us January, February, and March to experience Biltmore's most peaceful season. The year's lowest prices on tickets and overnight stays invite you to relax, reflect, and restore amid 8,000 acres of Blue Ridge Mountain beauty.

Explore Biltmore's 8,000 Acres

Enjoy a leisurely walk along the French Broad River, through dense forests, or across peaceful open meadows. Hike or bike the grounds of Biltmore at your own pace via an extensive network of trails.

The top 10 richest families in 2022 by estimated wealth are: The Walton family with $224.5 billion. The Mars family with $160 billion. The Koch family with $128.8 billion.

Vanderbilt's will, filed recently in New York surrogate court, reveals that her sons are getting an inheritance. Charles, her son with conductor Leopold Stokowksi, will inherit her antiques-filled Manhattan co-op. Cooper will get “everything else,” estimated at about $1.5 million.

When did the Vanderbilts lose their money? ›

Within 30 years of Cornelius' death, no member of the Vanderbilt family was among the richest in the U.S. And within 50 years of his death, the fortune was completely gone.

The Biltmore is called the “grandest private home in America,” but even that doesn't do it justice. At 178,926 square feet, the Gilded Age estate dwarfs the White House by a factor of three and puts Hearst Castle (at 70,000 square feet) to shame.

Question:Do I need to pay for parking? No, parking is included in admission.

Enjoy a full day on our 8,000-acre estate! 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

No, the television show was not filmed at Biltmore Estate. However, the similarities between Downton Abbey and the real-life story of the Vanderbilt family at Biltmore Estate are remarkably similar. What is this? The Vanderbilt family were pillars of American society.

The Premium House tour is $150.00 per person, plus tax, and meets inside the main entrance of Biltmore House five minutes prior to departure. All specialty guided tours, such as the Premium House Tour, are in addition to your estate admission.

Face coverings are optional.

Taking you behind the scenes to rarely-seen domestic staff's areas, this exclusive 60-minute tour gives you an in-depth look at what it was like to work at America's Largest Home®. Advance reservation required. Tour includes 200 stairs with no elevator access.

Anderson explained that because of his famous family's money troubles, he never expected to inherit a fortune either. "I grew up watching money being lost and knowing it was being lost," he said. "From a very young age, I was very aware of, 'This is not me.

What hotel chain owns the Biltmore? ›

The Biltmore Company is an American firm that owns and operates Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The company is owned by the family of William Amherst Vanderbilt Cecil, the younger grandson of George Washington Vanderbilt II.

Upon her death, Vanderbilt left her son, Anderson Cooper, almost her entire estate, which was valued at less than $1.5 million.

“ “A Biltmore Christmas” joins others on a short roster of movies filmed at the Biltmore Estate, including, most notably, “Forrest Gump” (1994) and “The Last of the Mohicans” (1992).

It's called "A Biltmore Christmas" and will star Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha. The movie is expected to debut during Hallmark's 2023 "Countdown to Christmas." Snow sprinkled the Biltmore Estate, just in time for production to begin.

President. President William McKinley, Jr. visited Biltmore Estate on June 14, 1897.

To dine on the estate, guest must have a daytime ticket, a Biltmore Annual Pass, or a stay at one of the estate's splendid overnight properties.

Though the family stopped living in the mansion in the 1950s, it is still owned and run as a tourist attraction by the fourth generation of Vanderbilt descendants.

Doors in the Library lead to a passageway connected to the Second Floor Living Hall. Have you ever wondered what's behind the doors on the top floor of the Library? Here's your peek. The doors located on both sides of the overmantel lead to a passageway connected to the Second Floor Living Hall.

George Washington Vanderbilt, who commissioned the Biltmore House in 1882, was Gloria Vanderbilt's great-uncle. Gloria Vanderbilt's grandfather, Cornelius Vanderbilt II, and George Washington Vanderbilt were brothers. And those brothers were grandsons of railroad and shipping magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt.

She apparently left Biltmore to study art in New York City while living in Greenwich Village.

What movie was filmed at the Biltmore house? ›

“ “A Biltmore Christmas” joins others on a short roster of movies filmed at the Biltmore Estate, including, most notably, “Forrest Gump” (1994) and “The Last of the Mohicans” (1992).

During one scene where Forrest Gump is running across America, he was actually running along the road which leads to The Inn on Biltmore Estate and Antler Hill Village & Winery!

In fact, everyone who was anyone, from politicians like President Franklin D. Roosevelt to notorious gangsters like Al Capone– stayed at The Biltmore, where they enjoyed fashion shows, gala balls, aquatic shows in the 23,000 square foot grand pool, elaborate weddings and world‐class golf tournaments.

As the family inheritance was dispersed between more and more descendants, New York Central was undergoing changes. The transport business had peaked in late 1920s, but freight soon declined and by the end of World War II trucks, barges, airplanes and buses had cut into its industry.

Bottom line: "Anderson Cooper does not have any ownership in, or get any special privileges at, Biltmore Estate," Sims said, "although we would love to have him visit." In case you're wondering, Gloria Vanderbilt also was married to Pasquale DiCicco, Leopold Stokowski and Sidney Lumet.

Contemporary descendants include American art historian John Wilmerding, journalist Anderson Cooper, actor Timothy Olyphant, musician John P. Hammond, screenwriter James Vanderbilt, and the Duke of Marlborough.

The Vanderbilt family fortune was once equal to $185 billion. As a well-known journalist and author, Cooper has a net worth of about $50 million in 2023, according to Celebrity Net Worth. He also collects quite a salary — $12 million annually (estimated).

Vanderbilt named his estate Biltmore, combining De Bilt (his ancestors' place of origin in the Netherlands) with more (mōr, Anglo-Saxon for "moor", an open, rolling land).

Antilia: 400,000 sq ft. Biltmore Estate: 175,000 sq ft. Safra Mansion: 117,000 sq ft. Fair Field: 110,000 sq ft.

You might also know him as the son of Gloria Vanderbilt, a fashion designer, artist, and socialite who died at age 95 in 2019, and the great-great-great-grandson of shipping and railroad tycoon, Cornelius Vanderbilt. But the anchor is also a proud dad of two. Here's what you need to know about Cooper's family.

Does the Biltmore pay property taxes? ›

The Biltmore Co.

The estate gets an agricultural deferment for the grounds, so it pays Buncombe County property taxes on $79.1 million. In 2017, the Biltmore Co. paid property taxes of $453,795.

The name evokes the Vanderbilt family's Biltmore Estate, whose buildings and the gardens within are privately owned historical landmarks and tourist attractions in Asheville, North Carolina, United States. The name has since been adopted by other unrelated hotels.