The world famous Biltmore House, a 250 room mansion, was conceived by George Vanderbilt II in 1895. The Biltmore Estate was designed by architect Richard M. Hunt and landscape designer Fredrick L. Olmsted (of Central Park fame). Taking six years of construction for the four acres of floor space, it features 65 fireplaces, some 70 foot ceilings, 34 bedrooms and three kitchens.
George Vanderbilt spent most of his large inheritance on this property and lived there until his death. His widow conveyed a large tract of land , surrounding the house, to the United States Forest Service, creating today's Pisgah National Forest. The Biltmore Estate is open to visitors for daily tours.