Preservation Matters: Biltmore Recovers from Helene

As Biltmore recovers from the damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene in September 2024, our mission statement—to preserve the property as a privately owned, profitable, working estate—has never been more relevant than it is now.

“Biltmore’s mission statement was developed by my grandfather William A.V. Cecil, who was George Vanderbilt’s grandson,” said Chase Pickering, Vice President of Guest Experience. “He put into words what has always been our family’s legacy of preservation.”

We continue the legacy of preservation today as we work to restore areas of the estate that were damaged by the storm, and in our ongoing efforts to assist our community with economic support and rebuilding expertise.

Restoring the Lodge Gate

Lodge Gate was decorated for Christmas–a sign of hope and resilience for guests, employees, and the community.

The iconic Lodge Gate through which most guests enter Biltmore was already slated for preservation even before Helene. When floodwaters rose almost to the bottom edge of the archway—about 27 feet high—the project took on a new urgency.

“You can see the high-water mark on the pebbledash finish of the Lodge Gate—it rose higher than the level of the historic 1916 flood,” said Vince Helton, Senior Director of Facility Operations. “It’s a daily reminder of the impact this storm had.”

While sections of exterior brick and some wooden flooring were lost to the flood, the foundation of the structure was not undermined, keeping Lodge Gate structurally sound as the restoration process begins.

“Despite the challenges, there are some bright spots, like the discovery of an original fireplace that had been covered during a prior remodeling effort. We also believe we can use about 80-90% of the original tiles to repair the roof,” Vince said.

Repairing the Gate House Gift Shop

The Gate House Gift Shop at the estate’s main entrance is closed for repairs, but plans to reopen in Spring 2025.

Nearby, the Gate House Gift Shop also sustained considerable damage from flooding. Though not an original estate structure, this charming shop has been welcoming guests since 1968. Located just in front of the Lodge Gate, the shop has always been open to visitors, even without a Biltmore admission ticket.

“We are working hard to have our Gate House Gift Shop open again by spring 2025,” Vince said.

Recovering the landscape

Employees clean up storm damage on the Front Lawn of Biltmore House.

While Biltmore recovers and preserves its historic buildings, damage from the storm wasn’t limited to estate structures—it also affected the landscape across the property.

“From floodwaters to high winds, we’ve seen a variety of problems in the aftermath of the storm,” said Bill Quade, Director of Horticulture. “Months later, we’re still cleaning up some of the more heavily forested sections of the estate and restoring riverbanks that were stripped away by the height and speed of the water from the French Broad and Swannanoa Rivers that cross the property.”

According to Bill, some of the most obvious damage occurred at the main entrance of the estate.

Landscaping crews maintained tradition by lining the entry road with pots filled with trees and decorative greenery to welcome guests during our 2024 Christmas at Biltmore season.

“We had to remove the large tulip poplars that lined the entrance from Biltmore Village to Lodge Gate after the floodwaters receded,” Bill said. “Almost all of them were damaged, and we couldn’t leave the few that were still sound standing by themselves.”

Plans are being developed to install new trees at the entrance to the estate along with new lighting options, similar to the 2005 landscaping initiative in which we replaced the century-old double allée of tulip poplars framing the Front Lawn of Biltmore House.

“If there’s any silver lining to a situation like this, it’s that it gives us an opportunity to make positive improvements to the guest experience,” said Bill. “As Biltmore recovers, we will continue to lean heavily on what Olmsted’s landscape design intent was for specific areas on the estate. This not only centers on hardscapes such as paths, but the plant selection as well. Repairing the land isn’t something that will be done in a year, or even two. It’s a process that guests will enjoy 50, 60, and 70 years from now.”

Preserving community history

Biltmore staff members carefully cleaned the pews from The Cathedral of All Souls in Biltmore Village.

In addition to our own efforts to rebuild and restore damaged areas of the estate, we are honored to support preservation work in our community, including the needs of the Cathedral of All Souls Church in Biltmore Village.

This historic church, commissioned by George Washington Vanderbilt and designed by Biltmore House architect Richard Morris Hunt, was completed in 1896. It is now the only church Hunt designed that is still standing.

After four feet of muddy flood water receded from the sanctuary, the Cathedral’s original 46 quarter-sawn oak pews were removed and stored on the estate, along with more than 100 boxes of archival materials.

Our Museum Services Furniture Conservators and members of our Housekeeping team cleaned the pews using soft bristle brushes and sponges dipped in hot water with a very small amount of standard dish detergent to help break up mud. After cleaning, furniture was left to dry in an area with good air circulation to minimize risk of mold growth.

While the Cathedral Church, Parish Hall, and other buildings have now been cleaned and dried, Biltmore’s teams will continue to assist All Souls in preserving their historic collections. All materials will be returned when the church is able to store them safely.

Biltmore recovers along with our region

During Christmas, the estate’s main entrance sign displayed our community’s #WNCStrong message of hope during our recovery.

“In the months since the storm, our teams have worked around the clock to rebuild, restore, and repair the damage at Biltmore. We were able to reopen the estate on November 2, 2024, just in time to enjoy our annual Christmas at Biltmore traditions. We are grateful to our many guests and Passholders who returned to celebrate the 2024 holiday season with us, and we appreciate your continued visitation in support of the estate and our region’s economic recovery in 2025,” said Chase.

A first-look for Biltmore Annual Passholders

This post was originally shared with Biltmore’s Annual Passholders in the Spring/Summer 2025 issue of Ambassador, our exclusive Passholder magazine. Join our Passholder family to get insider access and exclusive benefits—like unlimited daytime visits for a full year!