Right: The new inn offers spectacular vistas of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The state's latest resort is, indeed, a showplace. Handsomely situated on a picturesque hill that is surrounded by mountain vistas, the 213-room inn provides panoramic views of the house and winery, downtown Asheville and Mount Pisgah in addition to the estate and its immense natural beauty. It's a leisurely drive across the estate to the famed Biltmore House. Long regarded as one of America's best-known and most popular attractions, the 8,000-acre estate has been managed by the Vanderbilt heirs since George's death in 1914.

The inn has all the qualities of a top-rated hostelry, including spacious, tastefully appointed guest and meeting rooms; excellent cuisine that is prepared by an all-star team of talented chefs; a friendly, hospitable staff of more than 200 that is dedicated to providing gracious service; an atmosphere of old-world charm that is relaxing rather than stuffy; and a setting that is spectacular and dramatic. When the time comes, the Inn on Biltmore Estate is a sure bet to be highly rated by the various services that rank fine hotels. The inn, three years in the planning and construction stage, will be open year-round.

“We are delighted with this exciting new facility for Biltmore Estate,” says William A.V. Cecil Jr., president and chief executive officer of the Biltmore Co. “My great-grandfather enjoyed entertaining guests here a century ago. Now we can offer many of the same amenities, including a place to stay the night.”

“There was a strong market demand from visitors who wanted to stay on the estate,” adds Stephen P. Miller, executive vice president, “so the inn will enable them to immerse themselves more in the total guest experience.”

Built at a cost of $31 million, the inn's facilities include guest rooms and suites, a 150-seat restaurant, banquet rooms, meeting rooms, a lobby bar, library, gift shops, outside swimming pool and a fitness room. A spacious terrace with spectacular views provides an ideal site for outdoor social functions.

The structure contains 165,000 square feet on seven floors. More than 5,000 square feet are dedicated for meeting rooms and conferences with state-of-the-art electronic technology. The inn features a slate roof, fieldstone and stucco.

“It was essential to create a property with a sensitivity to the historic significance of the site and its surroundings, “ Cecil says, “and to keep within the spirit of America's gracious resorts at the turn of the century.”

In addition to visiting the Biltmore House (America's largest private home), the gardens and the winery, guests make hike the scenic trails, take carriage rides, go horseback riding or biking. The Blue Ridge Parkway is a stone's throw from the estate, and there are a variety of things to see and do in the beautiful mountain region. Miller says annual attendance at the estate is approximately 900,000.

“We want guests to experience the same type accommodations, hospitality and activities that my great-grandfather extended to his family and friends when they were here in the early days,” says Cecil.

Ironically, the new facility comes a hundred years after a small hotel or inn was considered at the turn of the century when the estate consisted of more than 12,000 acres of heavily forested terrain as well as open pastures, lush meadows and fertile hunting grounds.

In a series of memos in the archives, Vanderbilt had discussed plans for a hotel on the grounds. In August 1900, a memo mentions a possible 40-room inn with a construction budget of $17,509. It is not known why the proposed inn was not built.

Rates at the new inn are seasonal and range from $139 to $329 per day, European plan. Packages are available that include breakfast, afternoon tea, dinner, valet parking and gratuities.

The inn is a winner, folks, and I urge you to see it for yourself. For further information call 1-800-858-4130 or access the Biltmore Inn's web site at www.biltmore.com.

Return to magazine index