When traveling, we seek experiences that make us feel good. We also aim to connect with other communities to experience their lifestyles and learn of their history and heritage. Sometimes, challenging times call us to travel for support of afflicted destinations.
I burst into tears yesterday watching YouTube videos of the devastation at Biltmore Village. I have not found any information on Biltmore Estate other than the estate and village are closed.
When my husband and I visited the legendary Biltmore Estate this past Spring, I wanted to immerse myself in the lifestyle of the wealthy influencers of the latter part of the 19th century. My passion for architecture, design, and history spearheaded our plans for an RV adventure into the mountains of western North Carolina.
The splendor of Biltmore oozes refinement and tradition. My favorite was George Vanderbilt’s library. I could get lost in there for days! Everything is tastefully appointed in the artwork, the silver, the linens. We wanted to be there in springtime to see the Biltmore Gardens in full bloom. The weather cooperated with light morning showers, a cool breeze, and an afternoon clear blue sky. The gardens exploded with color and beauty, so perfectly landscaped that they transported me to a different and much slower time. A time when humans connected with nature and themselves.
George Vanderbilt arrived in Asheville in 1888 and purchased the land comprising most of the appropriately named town of Best. On this land, he would build Biltmore Village. By 1890, Frederick Law Olmsted, co-designer of New York’s Central Park, and architect Richard Morris Hunt of Gilded Age fame collaborated on what would become the iconic Biltmore Estate, home of George Vanderbilt and his mother, Maria Louisa Kissam Vanderbilt. George was not married at the time construction began.
Biltmore Estate’s springtime tour tickets range from $90 to $120. Aside from spring, Christmas is most people’s favorite time at Biltmore Estate. Tickets go from $130 to $155 then, and I hear the Christmas decor is like something out of a dream. It is highly recommended to purchase tickets as soon as you confirm your travel dates.
The Biltmore estate tour involves a lot of walking and stair climbing. However, there is a small elevator for those who watch the tour in a theater room and those in wheelchairs.
Biltmore Village’s people are friendly, and beautiful items are perfectly curated in small shop windows. Plenty of trees and a medieval architecture style with red bricks, steep-pitched roofs, gables, recessed porches, and half-timbered walls add tremendous charm to the experience.
From 1895 to 1914, when George Vanderbilt died, many important buildings were completed in Biltmore Village. All-Souls Episcopal Church (Cathedral of All Souls today), a streetcar line from the courthouse to Biltmore, Biltmore Parish Day School, the Cottages on All Soul’s Crescent, which was built to provide homes for the workers at Biltmore, the Biltmore Post Office, the town’s Plaza Business Center and more made this village the happy and welcoming place it was when we visited in April.
If you want to submerge in the beauty of Biltmore and its surroundings, there are several options for an overnight stay. The Village Hotel, the Inn, and charming cottages complement any trip to Biltmore Estate. Several hotel options are available at the village or in downtown Asheville. Our favorite area hotel was The Historic Omni Grove Park Inn. What an impressive view and accommodations. The hotel is currently closed due to the impact of Hurricane Helene.
George Vanderbilt delighted in filling his wine cellar. In the early 1970s, George’s grandson, William Cecil, introduced French American hybrid vines. “We have a river. We have a chateau. We have the land. We have no vineyard. Every French chateau has a vineyard.” he said. Today, the world-class Biltmore winery is another feature visitors enjoy while visiting the estate.
Biltmore Village has experienced several devastating floods, including those in 1916 and 1940. In the most recent flood, both the French Broad and Swannanoa rivers overflowed, causing widespread damage in the area. Residents are now dealing with the difficult challenge of clearing debris and restoring their historic village once more.
The 1916 flood, and the upkeep of her expensive property holdings proved difficult for Mrs. Edith Vanderbilt, who decided to sell Biltmore Village in 1920. All Souls Church, its associated buildings, the hospital, and the train depot were excluded from the sale to George Stephens of the Appalachian Property Company. Read more by visiting historicbiltmorevillage.com.
I feel that this year’s Christmas season at Biltmore Village may not be as good as usual. There is a lot of work to be done to restore it. We don’t know the condition of Biltmore Estate. I have not found any information online.
Biltmore Village is the place to spend time after a long day visiting the estate, enjoying the frivolous activities popular among tourists, shopping, admiring the beauty of historical architecture, and savoring fantastic food. Undoubtedly, the village will rise again and welcome visitors with its friendly disposition.
I remember meeting a young mother and her cute toddler boy riding a Hot Wheels Tough Trike while doing my laundry at the East Asheville KOA. She told me they were permanent residents at the RV park. I wonder what happened to them, and I pray with all my heart that they are safe.
In life, we never know if we will be here tomorrow or if a natural disaster will wipe out our homes or damage our community’s historic buildings. We are here, and then we are not. When I travel, I want to stop and appreciate the beauty surrounding me, hoping never to forget these blessed opportunities. Life is short, we know, but we can slow it down.
Travel bestows us with great times. We seek fun and relaxation; for the most part, travel delivers. Sometimes, we can travel to make a difference. After this catastrophic event, travelers can make a difference by planning a trip to Asheville, NC, Biltmore Estate, and Biltmore Village as soon as they are ready to welcome visitors again.
It might not be until next Spring when hope streams through the valleys and mountains surrounding Biltmore Estate again. Spring marks new beginnings and the hope of a brighter future, and this time, we can help make this happen.
We can also send money. I sent my donation this morning, and you can also donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund to help communities recover from Helene by visiting NC.GOV.
Notice the photo below of the “Historic Biltmore Village” sign and watch the video link here to see the devastation of that shop and area. More of Biltmore Village here
Thank you for reading my story.
Biltmore Estate and Biltmore Village
The OMNI Grove Park INN
Cactus in the Mirror by Nydia O. Studio 