Tourist Traps: The Biltmore Estate

Well, after a quiet weekend here on the Point Blank Critic, I have returned from a day trip to visit the historic Biltmore Estate.

For those of you who have never heard of this 8000 acre estate containing America's largest home, it is a large family estate around Asheville, North Carolina. Originally opened, by it's first owner George Vanderbilt, in 1895 the house on this estate contains 250 rooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces just to point out the luxury for which this house was designed. The basement even has full recreational areas including gymnasium, indoor pool, and bowling alley.

The family house has been passed down through descendants exclusively and is now owned by George's great-grandson. Tours of the house are available, as well as more specialty guided tours. It really is a wonderful house and decorated with many antique art pieces.

Also on the estate are several other stops. The Deer Park Inn allows visitors to stay on the grounds during their excursion, although I did not stop by this location. Also, they boast a winery where they give people a chance to take a flavor of Biltmore home. While the winery is a new business and not a historic part of the estate, it is nevertheless a nice stop. They offer tastings at the end of the winery tour.

Also on your way out (the exit road is about 4 miles once you have passed the house which is another mile past where you probably parked your car) is a small barn that they call River Bend Barn. It is a cute little place with a couple of horses you can pet and some other barnyard animals. It is a far cry from the original stables, which was kept by the house. It has since been turned into a cafe and a set of gift shops.

If you want a glimpse of a simpler time, specifically from the extravagant point of view, you would be hard pressed to find a better place to stop than the Biltmore Estate.

The Point Blank Critic