Biltmore Estate will reopen after damage from Tropical Storm Helene shuttered America’s largest home, estate officials said Saturday.
Crews are still clearing debris from woodlands on the property, and some roads are still under repair, officials said. Trails and the Outdoor Adventure Center are closed until further notice. Still, the estate is back in good enough shape to welcome guests again starting Saturday, November 2, the start of the holiday season, Christmas in Biltmore.
The estate is one of the most popular tourist attractions in North Carolina.
Helene, a former Category 5 hurricane, killed at least 95 people in the state and caused record flooding and damage in Western North Carolina after arriving in the state on September 28. Entire mountain communities disappeared into swollen, raging rivers. At least 90 people are still missing, emergency services said.
“For more than 125 years, Biltmore has witnessed the resilience and community spirit of the Asheville area,” according to a news release from the estate. “The response to Helene has led to signs of recovery across the region.”
Biltmore will be fully decorated for the Christmas season and the attractions and restaurants on the estate will be open. Estate accommodations welcome overnight guests.
Many businesses and roads in the Asheville area have reopened, estate officials said, with some areas still undergoing recovery efforts. So visitors may need to take alternate routes to Biltmore.
Restoring “the vibrancy” of Asheville
Biltmore Estate launched a $2 million “Biltmore Relief Fund for WNC” to support workers in crisis and nonprofit organizations in the region.
“We are incredibly grateful for the outpouring of support for our community and the determination of our first responders, utility workers and community volunteers,” Bill Cecil Jr., president and CEO of Biltmore, said in a statement.
“As the recovery unfolds, welcoming guests back to Biltmore not only means we can open, but also provides critical support to our region’s economy to help area workers, local businesses and friends,” he said. “Together we can help restore the vibrancy of Asheville and the surrounding areas.”
