The Conservatory is a beautifully awe striking structure in a popular Victorian Era style.  Designed by Mr. Hunt, the glass, brick and stucco structure complements Biltmore Estate’s beauty and eloquence.  The central room of the Conservatory is the Palm House containing a collection of palms and ferns along with other exotic plants.  The lower level of the Conservatory is the Garden Place shop, which has plants and garden accessories available for purchase by guests visiting Biltmore Estate.

We say farewell to the genius of Mr. Hunt and move into the creative mind of famed landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. Trained in engineering and agriculture Olmsted is considered the founding father of American landscape architecture.  Mr. Olmsted if you recall was the landscape genius that designed and oversaw the creation of the world famous Central Park in New York City.  His works also include the U.S. Capitol grounds and he consulted in 1864 on the preservation of Yosemite Valley, one of America’s first national parks.  Mr. Vanderbilt placed the remainder of Biltmore Estate in his competent hands. 

Mr. Olmsted had the task of overseeing the 125,000 acres within the estate.  Considering the rough terrain he had to work with, Mr. Olmsted created a more practical plan than Mr. Vanderbilt's original request and created a new plan for a 250-acre pleasure park adjacent to the House and gardens.  Olmsted had to develop the Approach Road and miles of scenic carriage drives, numerous trails, as well as several lakes and ponds.  He also had the responsibility of managing extensive forests, establishing farms along the French Broad River’s fertile bottom-land and replanting the remainder of the property that was previously well-worn farmlands into a commercial timber forest to coincide with Mr. Vanderbilt’s goal of a self-sufficient enterprise. 

A botanical garden best describes the artistic achievement of Mr. Olmsted, whose designs accentuated the regal architecture of Biltmore House.  Olmsted created a world of natural beauty with a keen sense of practical use for guests and visitors of Biltmore Estate.

The Spring Garden, named for the two small springs that Olmsted diverted underground to flow into the 20-acre Azalea Garden. Mr. Olmsted referred to these two gardens as the Glen. With 14 native species, hybrids and a variety of other plants facing extinction in their natural habitat.  Conservation was of great importance at Biltmore Estate.

From the gardens we travel into the parklands at Biltmore Estate.  Deer Park was created as a scenic game preserve covering 250-acres of rolling-meadows and groves of oak, hickory, poplar, and beech trees.  Hunting, fishing, hiking and wildlife observation were very poplar at Biltmore Estate, although today, hunting and fishing are no longer allowed.

Mrs. Highlander and I chose the Bass Pond trail for our tranquil hike.  We passed alongside the boathouse and noticed a couple resting in its rustic confines, guests have used this quiet setting for generations.  Large Bass swim in the shady shallow along the shore of the pond while others flip their tails causing an occasional splash of water.  Across the pond is a large red brick arched bridge that carries traffic away from the Biltmore House. 

I’m reminded that this bridge was featured in the big epic film “Last of the Mohicans” starring Daniel Day Lewis and Madeleine Stowe, one of my all time favorite films.  This classic story took place in Hudson Valley, New York, although the production was filmed in the Blue Ridge Mountains, a great choice in my opinion.  Several other scenes were shot on the estate as well due to its isolated charm; I believe one of the estate stables where also used.

We follow the edge of the pond until we arrive at the footbridge that spans over a waterfall, we take a breath and watch as it pours its white waters down into the rocky ravine below. Mr. Olmsted, a gifted engineer also installed a flume system at the pond for flood control in order to pipe debris-filled storm water under the pond's bed.   Finishing our trail loop we head back to the Biltmore House parking lot and drive to the estate’s Lagoon. During our hike back, we pass time with a couple of other guest we met on the trail exchanging out personal experience at Biltmore Estate. 

We drove along miles of paved roads on the estate grounds passing through groves, meadows and along the banks of the French Broad River. On the lower drive along the river we came to the Lagoon and took the road on the left that follows along its shores. The Lagoon like the upper Bass Pond were used for recreation by the guests of the estate.  The road along the Lagoon travels between the riverbank and the lagoon;s shoreline. Looking over the tree lined body of water we see the great Biltmore House perched high upon a hill like a Medieval French Castle. The astounding beauty of this spot is the Biltmore House with blue skies, white clouds and the boarding parklands.  If you stare into the crystal waters of the Lagoon you’ll see the wavering image of the castle as though it were a mirage, only looking up to the hill top does it all seem so real.

We complete the lagoon circle and are back on the main road, we continue along the river to the Winery and Farm Village.  To get an old time feel for Biltmore Estate’s agriculture and farm heritage you can take a tour of the Historic Horse Barn located in the Farm Village. The skills and lives of the estate's employees are depicted here through educational exhibits along with antique farm equipment. On weekends, woodworkers and blacksmiths demonstrate 19th–century farm life.

Click to go to the Winery at Biltmore Estate...