Honeymooning in the Past: The Inn on Biltmore Estate Asheville, North Carolina

Like most little girls, Edith S. Dresser of Rhode Island probably dreamed of growing up to marry a handsome prince, being whisked away to his castle and …you know the rest of the story. Edith’s dreams became reality in 1898 when she married George W. Vanderbilt in Paris. Although George was not a prince, he was a member of the wealthy American Vanderbilt family. George brought his bride to the 250-room Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina, that he had built three years earlier. Designed like a French Renaissance Chateau, the National Historic Landmark is America’s largest home.

According to the Biltmore Estate archives, the newlyweds first journeyed up the estate’s Approach Road by private carriage, passing through an immense horseshoe of goldenrods bearing the legend “Good Luck” in bright flowers. The Biltmore band, stationed in the tea garden, played inspiring marches and cheering employees lined the drive to greet the couple. There were bonfires, refreshments, and brilliant illumination of the grounds until past midnight.

More than 100 years have passed, and the same spirit of hospitality is extended to newlyweds today at the Inn on Biltmore Estate. When William A.V. Cecil Jr., great-grandson of George Vanderbilt, surveyed the view from the crest of Antler Hill on Biltmore Estate, he knew that he had found the perfect spot to carry out his great-grandfather’s plan to build a hotel. The addition of the Inn in 2001 brought a Mobile Travel Guide Four-Star rating and Four Diamonds from AAA. Conde’ Nast Traveler listed it on their 2005 and 2006 Gold List, and the Inn made Travel + Leisure’s 500 World’s Best Hotels for 2006. The Inn was built in harmony with Biltmore House, complete with towers, balconies, and terraces.

The rooms feature fine furnishings with plush beds, luxurious baths and decor inspired by English and French Manor houses. The opulent “Cecil Suite,” featured in Conde Nast’s “Room With A View,” often doubles as the honeymoon suite. In the distance, you can catch a glimpse of the top of Biltmore House. You can choose to dine in your room or try the Dining Room with delectable cuisine, fancy china and crisp white tablecloths. Be sure to ask about the packages with a romance connection.

One of our favorite places at the Inn was the Veranda where rocking chairs are considered prime amenities. The slight tinkling of wind chimes was the only interruption of silence as the Inn’s guests surveyed one of America’s most majestic landscapes. Along the meadow, we witnessed a small wedding in the distance with the Blue Ridge Mountains and blue sky providing the backdrop. Even the guests on the Veranda applauded the newlyweds as they made their way back to the Inn for the wedding celebration.

On chilly mornings, the floor-to-ceiling windows in the lobby and library areas of the Inn frame a spectacular mountain view. You will want to spend some time in the library sitting next to the massive twin fireplaces while a soothing melody from the black Baby Grand piano resonates throughout the room. The massive oil paintings are so surreal that it looks as if you could step into the painting and walk along the path that the artist created. But… there is more to do than daydream.

Plan a day outdoors and explore the romantic spots on Biltmore Estate. Request the concierge to arrange a lunch for you and plan a walk to the upper front lawn of Biltmore House. Picnic beneath the statue of Diana and enjoy the view of the Biltmore House that most people do not take the time to explore. Another off-the-beaten spot is the Boathouse on the Bass Pond Trail. This trail offers an optimal view of the rock bridge across the pond. While the landscape here may turn with the seasons, it is autumn’s fiery explosion of color that you will remember. For other outdoor activities, try hiking, biking, horseback riding, rafting or go off-road with the Land Rover Experience Driving School. Be sure to save time for a tour of the nation’s most-visited winery—Biltmore Winery. For lunch, stop off at The Bistro, adjacent to the winery, and sample their famous wood-fired pizzas.

Wake early for a trip to the Lagoon to view the layers of fog lift to uncover Biltmore House. Tour the house early when it is least crowded. Here, you can take a peek into the daily life of the Vanderbilts during the “Gilded Age” and have the opportunity to be part of it. George Vanderbilt filled the chateau with masterpieces by Renoir and Whistler, and a sampling of treasures from around the world.

You will tour the glassed-roofed Winter Garden where Cornelia Vanderbilt (Edith and George’s only child) and John Cecil had their wedding breakfast. In the Library, notice the ceiling painting, “The Chariot of Aurora.” It is comprised of 13 separate canvases and once hung in the Pisani Palace in Venice. A passage behind the mantel leads to the second floor, which provided easy access for guests to choose a book for bedtime reading. The Billiard Room is home to the most intriguing pieces of the Biltmore collection—an Empire walnut game table and ivory chess pieces owned and used by Napoleon Bonaparte during his exile on St. Helena Island between 1815 and 1821. If you have a spirit for adventure, schedule the Rooftop Tour that explores the roof at the top of the Grand Staircase. This tour allows guests to see the Observatory from the top down as you move around the wrought iron walkway to reach an exterior balcony where you will come face to face with the gargoyles. The panoramic view is spectacular!

For the most romantic experience of your honeymoon, pre-arrange a private carriage ride. You will need your camera for this occasion. The carriage driver, Jim, and his assistant, Rosie, could easily join the comedy circuit with their hilarious antics. First, Jim introduced us to Jake and Pat, a pair of magnificent Belgium draft horses. Jim related, “Honeymoon couples usually request that I make a photo of them in front of the carriage. When I was about to make a photo of one couple, I suggested to the bride ‘Why don’t you give him a big kiss?’ Why, she turned around and kissed Jake.”

Once you are settled in the carriage, it’s almost like Jim and Rosie are invisible. As we approached The Knoll, a deer bolted from the underbrush and wild turkeys wandered at will. Almost like magic, there it was—just like a scene out of a movie. The late afternoon sun splashed along the west side of Biltmore House—most believe the prettiest side. Jim and Rosie had delivered us to a place to view Biltmore House that can only be seen by private carriage or guided trail ride. Jim stopped long enough for us to snap a photograph for doubting friends and perhaps our grandchildren. Like any good love story, we rode off into the fading sunset, and, oh yes, the rest of the story—we are now living happily ever after.

For reservations at The Inn on Biltmore, call 800-922-0084 or visit www.biltmore.com.

For Biltmore Estate information, call 800-624-1575 or visit www.biltmore.com.

For Asheville information, call 888-247-9811 or visit www.exploreasheville.com.

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