Just like anything else, Mr. Vanderbilt vision for his estate did not stop at the castle. The gardens are another master piece that cannot be ignored. When I toured the gardens in late April, they were not 100% at their peak; however, I was still hoping that I had more time and the day had more hours. So sit back and enjoy the view of what I wish I had in my backyard, smile. Not only this property is tucked in the middle of spectacular Blue Ridge mountains but the many acres of the estate include multiple gardens and water features to enjoy. There is a shrub garden with at least 500 different varieties of shrubs, trees and other plants. A rose garden, not your everyday roses are there. Every two years they include new varieties and test them for resistance to diseases, bloom length, and fragrance. The Spring and the Azalea gardens, well, self-explanatory. Also they have an Italian Garden which I believe was designed for quiet moment where you can see Koi fish and goldfish swimming in quiet pond’s. (We all need that kind of garden in our backyards now, since we are all stressed out, smile). There is also a Bass Pond and a Boat House in the property, were the family and guests were fortunate to jump on a rowboat to explore the pond or to fish. If I can only have a mountain in my backyard…L No, I am not greedy, I just adore nature, don’t you? Smile.
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I already talked about the unbelievable amenities that Mr. Vanderbilt built in his castle for his friends and family to enjoy. They include a 70,000-gallon indoor pool, a bowling alley, a gymnasium, kitchen pantries, walk-in refrigerators, an elevator; well, too many amenities to mention, especially, when we are talking about a home built in 1895 that took six years of construction. Years later, in 1985, the Biltmore Winery opened up. In 1979, his grandson, William A.V. Cecil, following his grandfather passion for fine wines, contracted a sixth generation French winemaster, Mr. Phillipe Jourdain to help him bring to life his vision of a fine winery in Ashville, NC. Their partnership was so successful that the winery continues to be one of the top wineries today. I had an amazing day touring the facility and the winery. Travel with me through my slide show. When you tour indoor the Biltmore mansion, you will see how they staged a number of costumes from 13 movies throughout the different rooms of the house. Not only the costumes on display reveal the detail involved in costume design during that period, but also the work of costume designers. These are elaborated costumes from recent films such as Sherlock Holmes, Anna Karenina, and finally, Pride and Prejudice, one of my favorite movies of all times. Mr. George Vanderbilt’s love of literature, showcases more than 40 award-winning movie costumes in the castle from films based on favorite books in his collection. His personal library is said to include more than 22,000 volumes. I continue to be amazed at how ahead of his time Mr. George Vanderbilt was and I feel blessed to be able to enjoy the beauty of that Era in that mansion today, when life has turned to so much violence and craziness. Thanks so much Mr. George Vanderbilt. |
ABOUT THE AuthorI am a blogger, a photographer, a jewelry designer, a gourmet cook, and a recipe book writer. I am also a flea market flipper, an avid gardener, an interior/ outdoors designer, an avid golfer and traveler. Archives
February 2025
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