Meet Biltmore's Housekeeping Manager
What does it take to keep America's largest home clean and sparkling for guests? Meet Pat Ray, Housekeeping Manager for Biltmore and an employee for nearly 27 years. With a staff of 12, Pat and her crew take care of Biltmore House as well as many of the other buildings and residences across the estate.
Pat began working for the estate when there were fewer guests and staff—but still a lot of work to be done. One of her favorite projects involved the interior woodwork in Biltmore House. For many years, much of the wood had been given an annual coat of linseed oil to protect it. Over time, however, the heavy layers of oil had trapped dust and dirt, darkening the wood until it looked almost black. Beginning with the Oak Sitting Room, then moving to the Banquet Hall, the Winter Garden and beyond, Pat and her staff have spent years removing the linseed layers and restoring the woodwork to its original finish.
"When we worked on the throne chairs in the Banquet Hall," Pat remembers, "we found gold leaf and painting, but it was so black you could not tell just what it was. And we didn't know there were lion heads on the shelf columns (under the organ loft) until we'd cleaned off all that black stuff."
These days, beeswax is Pat's secret weapon for achieving a world-class wood shine. "You apply it, then buff it—like waxing a car—and it shines and lets the wood grain show through."
Did You Know?
Pat Ray has been living the Biltmore Brand for almost 30 years and remains enthusiastic about her job and her interactions with staff and guests. The hard work that she and her team accomplish every day keeps Biltmore House (and many other areas) looking good enough to enchant more than a million visitors every year. Hats off to Pat Ray and all the members of Housekeeping!
In addition to their regular cleaning and maintenance, there are always unexpected events that challenge Housekeeping's already-busy schedule. Remember the hurricane-induced flooding in 2004? Pat Ray does—she and the housekeeping staff handled everything from muddy footprints in the house to the disinfection of areas that had been covered with floodwater.
Pat Ray is a proud member of the International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) that includes members from all over the world. She has served as president of the "Old North State" chapter for the past two years. Pat tells us she became involved with IEHA because "I knew there had to be a school for housekeeping somewhere, and I searched until I found it." After completing her own certification with IEHA, Pat now helps others get involved with the organization and work toward certification.
Historic Counterpart
In George Vanderbilt's day, heading up the housekeeping staff presented as many challenges as it does today. Emily King, an English widow, was Biltmore's housekeeper from 1897 to 1900 or later. One of our oral history accounts tells the story of Mrs. King's very large dogs roaming through the kitchens, begging for treats—and of Mrs. Vanderbilt's finally having special gates installed to keep them out of the kitchen!
On her own time, Pat enjoys visiting Pigeon Forge, taking in an antique car show or two, and spending time with her three grandchildren (ages 19, 15, and 11). She also loves outdoor activities like camping, which should come as no surprise since she spends so much time indoors while at work.