Biltmore Estate slowly reopens to visitors amid COVID-19 pandemic

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — One of the most famous attractions in North Carolina is slowly reopening and allowing guests back onto its property amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Biltmore Estate in Asheville is welcoming visitors at the historic mansion, grounds and gardens.

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The estate has temporarily reduced its hours of operation and daily capacity will be limited and by reservation only. In addition, visitors are also required to wear face-coverings indoors.

Earlier this month, the estate reopened its park areas, but only to annual passholders who live in western North Carolina.

This comes after the estate furloughed 2,200 employees in April because of the outbreak.

The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that the 8,000-acre estate hadn’t closed its doors since World War II. It first opened to the public in 1930.

The 250-room chateau was built by businessman George Vanderbilt in the late 19th Century. It anchors an estate that is home to a winery, hotels, restaurants and a working farm.

The estate opened as a tourist attraction during the Great Depression as a way to help the area economically.

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These days the estate typically draws about 1.4 million visitors a year.

“This is undoubtedly the most painful time we have experienced in our company," estate President and CEO Bill Cecil Jr. said in a statement. “Staffing measures are temporary and intended to end as soon as business can resume. We will survive this setback and we will recover.”

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