Biltmore

Biltmore is a name used for several properties and brands, the most famous of which is the Biltmore Estate, a large private estate and historic house near Asheville, North Carolina. The name is also associated with historic luxury hotels that carry or have carried the Biltmore branding.

Biltmore Estate: The Biltmore House was constructed for George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895. The design was led by architect Richard Morris Hunt, with landscape plans by Frederick Law Olmsted and his firm. The mansion contains about 250 rooms and roughly 175,000 square feet of living space, set on a country estate of about 8,000 acres that includes formal gardens, a farm, and an on-site winery. The estate is renowned as the largest privately owned house in the United States and operates as a major tourist destination. The Biltmore House was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1963, and the property is managed by The Biltmore Company, a private enterprise associated with Vanderbilt descendants.

Ownership and access: Since the 1930s the estate has been opened to the public to help cover maintenance costs while remaining privately owned. It continues to function as a working estate with guest facilities, a winery, and seasonal tours, attracting visitors from around the world.

Other uses and branding: The name Biltmore is also associated with several historic hotels. Notably, the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, Florida (opened 1926) is a historic luxury hotel listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Another prominent example is the Millennium Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles (opened 1923), a landmark hotel in the city’s downtown area.