Asheville, North Carolina, has been in the news recently due to the devastating flood which hit the area as a result of Hurricane Helene.
Last fall, Shelby Senior Services scheduled a motorcoach trip to that area for May, which included a visit to the Biltmore Estate.
It was touch and go trying to confirm that trip because of washed out roads and rock slides. About a month ago it was determined that we were a “go.”
While there are still pockets where cleanup is still underway, overall, the town and the countryside has been restored meticulously for the return of visiting tour groups.
Of course, the Biltmore Estate was the outstanding feature of the whole trip (photo). The 178,900-plus square feet, massive 250-room French Renaissance chateau was not flooded, but the five-mile road leading up to the home had an extensive number of trees uprooted or snapped off and partially washed-out roads.
Fortunately for us, the estate is open for visitors and just as magnificent as it has always been since it was constructed. It was introduced to George W. Vanderbilt’s friends and family in 1895, six years after the beginning of the build, although it was still not finished.
Vanderbilt purchased 125,000 acres and centered the home on top of a mountain in the middle of the property so he could enjoy the views from any window of the mansion. It was his wish to pursue his studies of art, literature, music, agriculture, horticulture and architecture in these magnificent surroundings.
His library is one of the most interesting rooms in the mansion. He began reading when he was 12 years old and kept a list of those book titles and authors throughout his life.
When he died at age 52 in 1914, he had completed listing 3,159 titles and authors, an average of 81 books a year. He was considered one of the most well-read men in the country.
His library contains 12,000 of the 24,000 books in his collection.
The home was furnished with the latest 1895 technology such as electricity and central heating and telephones. In addition, artworks by Renoir, Sargent, Whistler, Pellegrini, and Boldini adorn the walls.
He installed an indoor swimming pool, bowling alley and gymnasium, just to mention some of the outstanding features of the mansion.
He employed the designer of Central Park in New York City, Richard Morris Hunt, to build the mansion. He also hired Frederick Law Olmsted, father of landscape architecture in America, to design the formal and informal gardens on the estate.
Biltmore (named for "Bilt," a town in Europe where his ancestors originated and "More," the name given to the open grounds in that town) is still the largest private residence in America. His heirs currently own the property, which still covers 8,000 acres.
One just has to visit this National Historic Landmark to appreciate Vanderbilt’s vision.
However, there are other places to discover while visiting Asheville including The Basilica of Saint Lawrence.
Rafael Guastavino, architect and builder of the Basilica, emigrated from Barcelona in 1881. He had been successful as a home and large factory builder in Spain.
This church is one of the most beautiful Catholic churches in America. It is adorned with a dome made of tile, created by Guastavino.
Quoting the brochure from the Basilica, Rafael Guastavino is credited with being responsible for the revival of an ancient tile and mortar building system used in Spain for centuries.
“This method of building uses layers of thin tile bedded in layers of mortar to create curved horizontal surfaces. Floors, roofs, ceilings and stairs can all be formed with this system.”
This enabled him to create an oval dome in the Basilica, which is strong, fireproof and beautiful. It is the largest oval, free-standing dome in America.
He, completed the church in 1908. He also used this method in a thousand buildings in places like New York City and Boston, as well as in buildings all up and down the east coast.
When you visit Asheville, don’t miss this beautiful church.
Finally, historic buildings all over Asheville have been financed by wealthy landowners. Many of these were built by E.W. Grove. His most enduring legacy is the Grove Arcade.
The Arcade is not a place for gaming, it is an ornate architectural structure housing an extensive number of fun, locally owned shops featuring jewelry, rare coins, watches, local crafts, fine art, instruments, and much more.
You won’t go hungry there, either. You may choose to order scrumptious ice cream, sandwiches, bakery items, or cafe food. It is a community within a community, just as E.W. Grove envisioned.
While Asheville has been through a challenging time, it has rebounded with gusto. You are welcomed there with open arms to experience all they have to offer.
Shelby Senior Services offers many fun and educational trips throughout the spring, summer and fall. We invite you to visit our office and pick up the flyers and brochures on the wall facing the front desk.
Join our family of travelers. Call 317-398-0127 or 317-701-5984 for more information.
The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed.
