Cookn Travels: The Biltmore Estate, Asheville, North Carolina

This was a great girls get away. We visited the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC, and took a tour through the Blue Ridge Mountain's "little" country estate....

Built by George Vanderbilt, at roughly 175,000 square feet, the estate took six years to build, from 1899-1895. It contains 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces, which does not include the servant's quarters. It also hosts the latest technology, which includes indoor plumbing, a laundry room, a bowling alley, swimming pool, gym, 3 kitchens, a walk in freezer, and elevator. At the time of our visit, the Biltmore was hosting the costumes from the movie Titanic.

I think the exterior staircase was my favorite part of the exterior design. I want to go back and do the roof top tour.

You enter the house through the main doors into the Entrance Hall and follow that into the Winter Garden.

Entrance Hall:

Winter Garden:

Banquet Hall:

You then make your way into the Banquet Hall. Dinner attire was formal dress and was served promptly at 8:00 PM.

The Banquet Hall

The Banquet Hall houses a 1916 pipe organ.

The Breakfast Room:

Although dinner was held in the Banquet Hall, even small 7-10 member family meals, breakfast had its own designated room, properly called The Breakfast Room. In our house, we call it the kitchen counter.

The Salon:

The Salon was one room never finished by the Vanderbilt's. It was finished later by his descendants as a sitting room.

The Music Room:

Another room left unfinished by the Vanderbilt's was the music room. It was finished by The Cecil family, the Biltmore's descendants and current owners, completed it in 1976.

The Library:

Probably my favorite room, it was a two story room with a staircase and balcony. Vanderbilt liked to read and wanted everything to look uniform, so he had books rebound, magazines bound into books, manuscripts bound, etc. This room had mahogany walls, a large fire place, and just felt warm and cozy.

It also happened to have my favorite Titanic costume that Kate Winslet wore the night she danced below deck with the commoners.

Tapestry Gallery:

This room was lined with large doors that opened to a large covered porch. It was still cool outside so all the doors were closed and we weren't allowed access to the porch. Here the Vanderbilt's enjoyed refreshments and music.

The Grand Staircase:

The Second Floor Living Hall:

This room was where family gathered before they headed down to the banquet hall for dinner.

The painting is of the Cecil Family

Mr. Vanderbilt's Bedroom/ Mrs. Vanderbilt's Bedroom:

Mr. Vanderbelt had his own bedroom and adjoined Mrs. Vanderbelt's bedroom via the Oak Sitting Room.

Mr. Vanderbilt's bedroom

The Oak Sitting Room

Mrs. Vanderbilt's bedroom

Guest Bedrooms and Sitting Room:

If you were a guest of the Vanderbilt's you had a choice of 33 bedrooms. Some with private baths and some with a shared bath.

The Lower Level:

The lowest level of the Biltmore hosts the gym, swimming pool, bowling alley, kitchens, laundry, and some servant quarters.

Stone Hallway:

You can see the foundation walls in this hallway. Because of the size of the Biltmore it took almost 2 years just to build the foundation.

Bowling Alley:

No automation here, if you wanted to bowl you needed servants to reset the pins and return the bowling balls.

Dressing Rooms:

Female dressing rooms were used for ladies to change into their swimming costumes. Men would change into attire appropriate for bowling or exercising.

Swimming Pool:

The swimming pool was only filled if family or guests wanted to swim. It was then emptied after use through a large drain in the floor.

Gymnasium:

No elliptical or treadmill here but there are weights, a rowing machine, and a pommel horse.

The Servant's Domain:

This area hosts the living quarters for the kitchen staff, 3 kitchens (one for just pastries, one for roasting meats, and one for the preparation of the rest of the meals), 2 laundry rooms and a drying room, pantry, walk in freezers, the servants's dining room, and servants entry.

Main Kitchen

Original Copper Pots

Servant's Dining Room

Small Laundry Room used for clothing

Large Laundry Room used for bedding, curtains, etc

Servant's Staircase

Bachelors' Wing:

The interior tour finishes back on the first floor in the Bachelors' wing complete with Smoking Room, Billiard Room, and Gun Room. Mr. Vanderbilt actually did not like hunting and all the hunting trophies in the Biltmore were actually purchased.

In the Billiard Room is where Jack's costume is found as well as the final costume worn by Rose in the movie Titanic.