Biltmore House FAQ
Why is it named Biltmore?
George Vanderbilt named Biltmore by combining two words: "Bildt," the region in Holland where the Vanderbilt family originated, and "more," an old English word meaning upland rolling hills.
How big is Biltmore House?
The house covers 4 acres, totaling 175,000 square feet. It consists of 250 rooms that include 35 guest and family rooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, and three kitchens.
Does anyone live in the house? Can I stay there?
Not since the 1950s. No, guests do not stay in the house, but you can enjoy Vanderbilt-inspired hospitality at the Inn on Biltmore Estate.
Who designed Biltmore House and how was it built?
America’s preeminent architect, Richard Morris Hunt designed Biltmore House. Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of landscape architecture in America, designed the surrounding acres of formal and informal gardens. This great house remains the largest private residence in America, a National Historic Landmark.
Begun in 1889, Biltmore House is constructed of tons of Indiana limestone transported by a special railway spur built specifically to bring the massive amounts of material and supplies to the site. It took hundreds of workers more than six years to complete. On Christmas Eve 1895, Vanderbilt formally opened his doors for the first time to friends and family. In the early 21st century, Biltmore House remains much as it was when the Vanderbilts occupied it more than 100 years ago, displaying the Vanderbilt family’s original collection of furnishings, art and antiques.
Learn more of Biltmore’s history.
Who owns Biltmore?
It’s all in the family. George and Edith Vanderbilt had one child, Cornelia, who married British diplomat John Francis Amherst Cecil in 1924. The Cecils had two sons; one is William A.V. Cecil, Biltmore Estate’s owner. His son, Bill Cecil, Jr., is chief executive officer of The Biltmore Company, which includes Biltmore House, Gardens, Winery, and River Bend Farm; Inn on Biltmore Estate; Biltmore Estate Wine Company; and Biltmore licensed products.
When was Biltmore House first opened to the public?
Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil, only child of George and Edith Vanderbilt, and her husband John Amherst Cecil, opened Biltmore to the public in 1930 at the request of Asheville city officials, who hoped it would spur tourism in the area during the Depression.