Biltmore Estate

The Reason Many People Come to Asheville

Biltmore is a château-style mansion built by George Vanderbilt and opened on Christmas Eve 1895. It is billed as the largest privately owned home in the United States, and the grounds were laid out with input from Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect behind Central Park. Even if you never step inside the house, the setting is worth the trip: long lawns, formal gardens, and mountain views in every direction.

More Than the House

The estate is a full day. Antler Hill Village has the winery and casual dining, the farm, and shops, and the estate's own site lists the house, gardens, winery, and The Inn on Biltmore Estate as open for visits. Admission is by ticket, and prices change by date, so buy from the official Biltmore site before you drive out.

Events Worth Planning Around

Biltmore's own event pages list Luminere, an evening outdoor light and sound experience, on select evenings from March 26 through October 18, 2026. Christmas at Biltmore runs November 3, 2026 through January 10, 2027, with Candlelight Christmas Evenings on select nights through January 9, 2027. Check our events calendar and Biltmore's site for the exact schedule.

Biltmore Village

Just outside the gates, Biltmore Village was flooded during Hurricane Helene and is still rebuilding, with some storefronts reopened and others still empty. See our Blue Ridge Parkway guide and first-timer weekend plan to fit Biltmore into a longer trip.