ASHEVILLE, N.C. – George Vanderbilt didn’t live long enough to witness the creation of the Appalachian Trail, but he did something even better – he left more than 80,000 acres of land to his widow, Edith Vanderbilt, who helped create Pisgah National Forest, where the trail runs.
The other grand thing he did was build the Biltmore Estate, the largest private home in the United States, in nearby Asheville, N.C.
Visiting the 1895 chateau requires its own 2-hour hike, just to see a fraction of its 250 rooms.
The exterior is French, English and whimsy – steep roofs, gewgaws, angels, monograms, curlicues. The interior is oak paneling, moose heads, a banquet hall fireplace the size of a three-car garage, gun room, smoking room, library, bowling alley, pool, gym, tapestry room and other guy-type amenities. (He built the house as a 27-year-old bachelor, so give him a break on the decorating.)
George Vanderbilt – grandson of railroad multimillionaire Cornelius Vanderbilt – enjoyed his house much too briefly. He died in 1914 after appendix surgery.
In 1930, during the Great Depression, the family opened Biltmore Estate for public tours to increase Asheville tourism.
Now, during the Great Recession, the estate continues to do so – with flair.
The new Antler Winery and several shops opened this spring on the 8,000-acre estate, 4 miles south of the house. (Yep, that’s still on Biltmore grounds.)
The winery is pleasant, but if time is limited, concentrate on George Vanderbilt's still amazing house (www.biltmore.com, 800-411-3812). Tickets are $60 for adults; spend $10 additional for the good audio tour. The estate has lodging (sorry, it's not in the main house) at the Inn on Biltmore Estate.