Why was the Biltmore so big?

George Vanderbilt, grandson of famed shipping entrepreneur and industrialist Cornelius “the Commodore” Vanderbilt, first visited Asheville, North Carolina, in 1888. 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.



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In addition to the house, the 8,000-acre estate is home to forested trails and beautiful gardens, which include one of the country's most complete collections of azaleas. Biltmore is also where you'll find the nation's most-visited winery. As you explore the estate, enjoy shopping, dining and luxury accommodations.

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Famous works by Rembrandt, Raphael, Anthony van Dyck – even Gilbert Stuart's George Washington portrait – were whisked away from Washington's National Gallery of Art by train and hidden at the estate to protect against possible attacks.

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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.

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Why Is Biltmore So Expensive? The ticket price is you paying for the HUGE amount of maintenance, restoration, and staff that it takes to run the estate, along with all the various activities that there are to do around the estate. It's not JUST to see the house and grounds.

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

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Branches of the family are found on the United States East Coast. 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.

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At least 15 movies have been filmed at least partly at Biltmore House or elsewhere on Biltmore Estate, including Being There, The Swan, Richie Rich, The Last of the Mohicans and Patch Adams.

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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.

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