ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Biltmore Estate, famously known as “America’s largest home,” is opening its doors for the holiday season. The estate, which dates back to the 19th century, reopened in early November after being closed for over a month due to Tropical Storm Helene.

George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore House was significantly affected by the storm that hit on September 27, resulting in severe flooding and 102 fatalities. The historic Biltmore Village, located near the estate, experienced major damage.

Chase Pickering, who is the vice president of Biltmore House Guest Experience & Operations and a great-great-grandson of George and Edith Vanderbilt, mentioned that recovery efforts have enabled the beautiful 250-room French Renaissance château to reopen, albeit with some restrictions.

“Some areas will take longer to restore than others, but many attractions are prepared and eager to welcome back visitors since our region relies heavily on tourism,” Pickering noted.

He urged travelers to stay informed, be prepared, and show respect while visiting the Asheville area and the estate.

Christmas at Biltmore is here

The annual Christmas at Biltmore festivities coincide with the estate’s reopening.

On October 30, Biltmore held its traditional tree-raising ceremony featuring a stunning 28-foot Fraser fir in the Banquet Hall.

The original art exhibit “Chihuly at Biltmore,” highlighting Dale Chihuly’s pieces, opened in March and has been extended until February 2.

Chief Marketing Officer Mark Hemphill reported that during the weekend of November 9, nearly 7,200 guests visited the estate, which is about 35% of the usual traffic for the season.

“Despite the challenges, we’re pleased with the encouraging feedback from our visitors, and many key indicators suggest that the volume of visitors will gradually increase throughout the holiday season and beyond,” he stated.

There are also plans to enhance marketing collaboration with Explore Asheville and Visit North Carolina to attract more visitors and aid the community’s economic recovery.

“We want our community to feel hope and resilience,” Hemphill stated. “Recovery will take time, but together we can significantly help bring tourists back to Asheville. We are committed to supporting the local economy, facilitating recovery efforts, preserving our area’s unique culture, and providing visitors with unforgettable experiences in Western North Carolina.”

What to experience at Biltmore Estate post-Helene

Pickering shared that this marks the third time Biltmore has faced an extended closure—previously during World War II, for two months during the COVID-19 pandemic, and now for a month due to Tropical Storm Helene.

He further mentioned that the Biltmore House, Conservatory, gardens, restaurants, winery, Antler Hill Village shops, and the estate’s hotels suffered minimal or no damage from the storm and are functioning as usual.

Biltmore House is now accessible for daytime tours, Candlelight Christmas Evenings, and special guided experiences, such as the Rooftop Tour and Biltmore House Backstairs Tour.

Visitors can also explore the farmyard in Antler Hill Village to see the farm animals, although the Outdoor Adventure Center and Horse & Carriage Barn are closed for the season.

As of November 14, the Equestrian Center’s boarding facility reopened, but the equestrian trails are still closed.

The wall, shrub, and azalea gardens, along with select walking paths around Antler Hill Village, are open to visitors.

Plans were in place for additional trails and roads to reopen on November 16, including those around Bass Pond and the Lagoon. The Lagoon has been repaired, while certain trails in wooded areas remain closed for cleanup activities.

The three-mile stretch of Approach Road and the road leading from the Walled Garden to Antler Hill Village will be open, but guests may encounter temporary detours as work continues throughout the estate.

The Biltmore Estate has been reconstructed following storm-related devastation. While the city water system is still not safe for drinking, Biltmore operates its own self-sustained well system, allowing restaurants and plumbing to function as usual.

“This reopening signifies hope for our entire community,” stated Pickering. “It showcases the remarkable dedication of our amazing team members at Biltmore, who have united to restore this place and prepare for welcoming guests during this truly enchanting season.”

What are the costs of visiting Biltmore Estate?

According to Pickering, Biltmore employs a “dynamic pricing” model, meaning ticket prices vary based on the day of the week and the season. Pricing will return to normal, unaffected by the storm, including for local residents.

During the festive season currently underway, ticket prices for adults range from $125 to $155 for access to the Biltmore House and its grounds. For access to the house, grounds, and the Chihuly exhibition, prices range from $160 to $190.

Biltmore also provides seasonal pricing, with discounted annual passes available during January, February, and March.

For the latest updates on recovery efforts, events, programs, passes, services, and new operating hours, visit Biltmore’s website at biltmore.com.

Progress on Biltmore’s cleanup, repairs, and demolition

The flood has caused extensive damage to Biltmore’s grounds and various buildings, clearly observable from the main entrance located at 1 Lodge St., off All Souls Crescent in Biltmore Village.

According to Pickering, the staff has been tirelessly working from dawn to dusk, clearing the “thousands” of fallen trees and debris from wooded areas and waterways while also fixing roads.

Seven buildings were affected by the flooding of the Swannanoa River, including one guest cottage, the gatehouse shop, the Lodge Street gate, the ticket center, the admissions kiosk, the group sales building, and the Starbucks at the entrance.

According to reports from the Citizen Times, part of the YSL News Network, the Swannanoa River, located just north of the village, rose nearly 6 feet above the previous record, peaking at 26.1 feet, as reported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Pickering mentioned that both the Starbucks building, which is leased by the coffee chain, and the group sales building were removed.

Some other damaged structures were successfully repaired in time for the reopening, and the front entrance is now accessible to visitors.

A flood level mark remains visible on the gatehouse, serving as a reminder that the Asheville area is still in the recovery process.

“The landscape has changed dramatically. Sadly, our beautiful, century-old tulip poplars at the front were vulnerable due to soil erosion caused by the flood, so we opted to remove them,” said Pickering.

Plans are in place to replant the trees next year to enhance the front entrance’s appearance.

“This will symbolize the renewal of Biltmore Village,” he remarked.

Other water bodies on the estate, such as Bass Pond and the Lagoon, were also affected by flooding and will remain closed, although the dam held firm. Repairs to the Lagoon’s bridge are currently in progress.

Wildlife, including turkeys, deer, and black bears, have been quite active on the grounds since the storm, noted Pickering. The status of the fish and other aquatic species, however, is still uncertain.

“Nature always recovers,” he stated. “It will come back in wonderful and unexpected ways.”

Biltmore’s community support and staffing

During the period following the storm and the estate’s closure, Biltmore employees Many workers were put on temporary leave.

Prior to the storm Helene, the company had almost 2,400 employees. As of October 30, Pickering noted that over half of the workforce had returned. He mentioned that the number of staff will keep increasing in response to the number of guests.

Biltmore confirmed that all employees were safe, although some lost their homes in the storm.

Pickering expressed pride and gratitude for the team that came together to expedite the cleanup, noting that many stayed on-site during the recovery efforts.

The owners of Biltmore established the Biltmore Relief Fund for Western North Carolina, committing $2 million toward local recovery efforts from the storm. They also hosted the sold-out, star-studded “Concert for Carolina,”