Inn on Biltmore Estate

Built on the grounds of the renowned Biltmore Estate, the Inn was part of Mr. George Washington Vanderbilt's original vision when he completed a 250-room French Renaissance chateau and country estate in 1895. Still family owned and maintained by the Cecil family (descendents of the Vanderbilts) the Inn has some of the same details, such as walnut floors and oak moldings from trees harvested on the property, that make the family's estate a national treasure.

• Pictures of Inn on Biltmore Estate

213 rooms include seven suites. Rooms in the back face the Blue Ridge Mountains; rooms in the front have views of the grounds. A two bedroom, two bath Cottage includes your own butler and chef. Flowery guest room furnishings are inspired by 19th-century English and French manor houses, and bathrooms are ample. Every room has 300-count cotton sheets and comforters, nightly turndown with chocolates, and high-speed Internet access.

• Nightly rates from about $289 but they change seasonally
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The expansive multi-story lobby of the Biltmore Inn has floor-to-ceiling windows and doors that lead out to a verandah facing the Blue Ridge Mountains and the French Broad River. Colorful oriental rugs, ornate chandeliers, oversized vases of flowers and carved wooden beams set the stately scene. Off the lobby, a bar with oversized stone fireplace and comfy sitting areas and an adjacent library, look out to spectacular country vistas.

The elegant Dining Room with its white tablecloth service offers a breakfast buffet and dinner in a setting with sprawling views, chandeliers and a large stone fireplace. The chefs are renowned for their creative regional cuisine using estate-raised beef and lamb and seasonal vegetables picked from the kitchen garden. A light lunch includes salads, soups, and club sandwiches. Afternoon tea, replete with English finger sandwiches, scones and fruit breads, is served in the Lobby Bar, library or Veranda. The French-inspired Bistro at the Biltmore Estate Winery serves wood-fired pizzas, pasta and estate-raised beef.

An infinity pool and hot tub are open from May to September. A modest fitness center has weights and cardiovascular equipment. Massage services are available.

Activities include the Land Rover Experience Driving School with customized lessons from experienced instructors. The trail and adventure program, that lasts up to a day, features driving on miles of advanced off-road terrain. The school also has a spectacular miniature off-road course for children. Other activities include fly-fishing lessons, horse drawn carriage rides with Belgian draft horses, bike touring or guided hikes with a naturalist. There's also horseback riding, kayaking and rafting on the French Broad River.

The extraordinary Biltmore Estate was created by the architect Richard Morris Hunt, designer of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Don't miss the magnificent exhibits of the family's original collection of furnishings, art and antiques. A shuttle service to Biltmore Estate and the Winery is included in your stay.

The four-star property, which opened in 2001, is situated on 8,000 acres in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Asheville, North Carolina. A stately looking mansion approached by a 3-mile driveway, the Inn sits atop Antler Hill, offering staggering views of well-manicured lawns and blue mountains. The property is 15 minutes from Asheville Regional Airport. Compare Flights

One Antler Hill Road, Asheville, North Carolina 28803
Phone: (828) 225-1660, (800) 922-0084; Fax: (828) 225-1680
Email: innsales@biltmore.com
Web site: Inn on Biltmore Estate

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