By Abby Cover and Sam Hayes
Perspective 1: Interning at the Biltmore
By Sam Hayes
My fascination with the Biltmore Estate began during a family trip when I was in first grade. Little did my parents know how deeply I would fall in love with this remarkable place. Since the first visit, it was always my dream to one day work at the Biltmore – a dream that became a reality this past summer.
For context, the Biltmore Estate, located near Asheville, NC, was built in 1895 by George Vanderbilt, an heir to a portion of the Vanderbilt fortune. Today the Estate is owned by descendants of George Vanderbilt and is run as a tourist attraction that welcomes over a million visitors every year.
The Estate is 8,000 acres and includes the historic house designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt, gardens and grounds designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, several operational farms, a winery, dozens of residences, a company run police force, and a modern “village” with hotels, restaurants, and shops. The Biltmore Company, which owns Biltmore Estate and several other subsidiary companies, employs over 2,000 people in Asheville. Needless to say, the Estate operates like a small city.
During my time at the Biltmore, I was given free range to explore the Estate and engage with those responsible for its operations. My supervisor, Parker Andes, is the head of estate planning and is a wealth of knowledge. He oversees all construction projects on the Estate, and having dedicated two decades to the Biltmore, he has seen the evolution of the Estate.
The mission of the Biltmore company is “The preservation of Biltmore as a privately owned, profitable, working estate.” Historic preservation is an important part of the work done on the Estate. As I delved deeper into the workings of the company, I discovered that there are many different reasons why preservation is valued at the company. Some employees find pride in safeguarding such a monumental piece of history. In contrast, higher-ups in the company emphasize the financial incentives as a primary driver for ongoing preservation efforts.
The Biltmore holds the distinction of being a National Historic Landmark, the highest designation from the federal government for historic sites. To retain the historic landmark status, elements of the Estate cannot be altered without approval from the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office, and ultimately, the National Parks Service. Maintaining this National Historic Landmark Status is a key priority for the Biltmore Company because it allows them to obtain tax credits for certain historic rehabilitation projects done on the Estate. Though this is just one element of a broader rationale for preservation, I think that this shows that as long as there is a financial reason for the Biltmore Company to maintain the historic integrity of the Estate, it will continue to be preserved.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about my experience at the Biltmore. It was a unique opportunity and I don’t regret doing it, but I also realized that I do not want to work for a private company. I need a broader mission behind what I’m doing – something that makes me excited to get up in the morning. Regardless, the Biltmore continues to have a special place in my heart.
Perspective 2: Vacationing at the Biltmore
By Abby Cover
This summer, I spent three days in Asheville, specifically staying at the Inn at Biltmore. The Biltmore Estate itself is only a small part of the total grounds, which total about 8,000 acres, and the Inn is located toward the far end of the grounds. From the entrance of the grounds, it takes about 10 minutes to drive to the Inn. This makes the Inn very secluded, but also makes you dependent on The Biltmore for such things as food and entertainment. Surprisingly, there is little in terms of trails accessible at the Inn (to my knowledge), so you are definitely meant to stay inside the Inn (or go to the nearby Antler Village) to entertain yourself. Antler Village at The Biltmore is a hotel and a clustering of restaurants and shops that opened in 2010, located down the hill from The Inn.
The Inn at the Biltmore is intended to be more of a resort than a hotel, but there are not many amenities besides a beautiful view keeping you at the “resort.” I was disappointed by the lack of ability to walk around the Biltmore grounds while staying at the Inn – there are trails, but they need to be driven to, or are not clearly marked as walkable from the Inn. Antler Village does have some activities similar to a historical town, such as a woodworking and weaving, which is interesting if you are there at the right time. Also, the Village has outdoor activities scheduled such as sheepdog herding (which I was disappointed to have missed). There are additional activities that can be purchased according to a little slip of paper given to us, along with general Biltmore and Asheville information, upon check in. Eating at the Inn requires sitting down and being waited on in the hotel restaurant, which I personally was not used to for breakfast in particular. Sometimes you (I) just want a continental breakfast! The facilities themselves were lovely, and the hotel staff were helpful and kind. Also, you get a free coffee table book about the history of the Estate, which is very cool!
The Estate itself was enormous and beautiful – the self-guided walking tour took about two hours! Definitely a workout if you’re not prepared; you have to climb the basement stairs and then go all the way to the top! There is a well-organized line for the self-guided tours that is very reminiscent of the lines in theme parks, like Disney World. I was impressed at how efficient the line was, though it was not in the shade and Asheville is hot in the summer. Very sweaty. Once in the Estate itself, it is undeniably beautiful. However, for myself, it’s frankly unbelievable and sometimes a little uncomfortable being around such blatant demonstrations of wealth. You could probably do both the house tour and explore the gardens of the Estate in one day, but it would be a very full day. However, to explore the full 8,000 acres, there is absolutely no way to do that in one day. Pre-planning is definitely needed in order to explore the full Biltmore grounds.
Overall, I enjoyed my stay at the Biltmore Inn, but think it is not necessary if you want to explore the Biltmore grounds or Estate! The grounds are so enormous and well maintained, and the house is truly extraordinary, and I am glad I visited.
Sam Hayes is a second-year master’s student in the City and Regional Planning program at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. At UNC-CH, he specializes in housing and community development with an emphasis on how historic preservation can be used as an anti-gentrification tactic in changing communities. Sam loves hiking, reading, and spending time exploring cool historic buildings. When not in Chapel Hill, you will probably find Sam in Hendersonville, NC with his boyfriend Kane, dog Canyon, and cat Lucille.
Abby is in her second year of the City and Regional Planning Master’s Program, and is looking forward to sharing all she has learned with her future employers. She previously studied Sociology and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies at the University of Pittsburgh. Before coming to UNC, Abby could be found galivanting through her native Philadelphia (Go Birds!). Her planning interests include climate adaptations, sustainable development, and fostering community engagement. Outside of planning you can find her grabbing a bagel sandwich, watching horror movies, and wishing for better public transit.
Edited by Kathryn Cunningham
Featured image courtesy of Sam Hayes
