If you are an American, chances are you have heard the name Vanderbilt. As in, “no, I can’t buy you a brand new Maserati! Who do you think I am, a Vanderbilt?” The Vanderbilts were rich. But they weren’t just rich like the doctor down the street who buys all his teenagers brand new cars because he hasn’t made the connection between young age and accident rates yet. They were iconically rich. Like, they are considered one of the seven wealthiest families in history (world, not just American) rich.

In the 1800s, Cornelius Vanderbilt build railway and shipping empires. Good timing to get into shipping and railroads. He grew up in a modest home, and even after her had acquired his vast fortune, he continued to live in modest homes. His descendants were not so modest, however, and many of them used their inheritances to built opulent mansions.

In the 1880s, George Washington Vanderbilt, youngest son of William Henry Vanderbilt and grandson of Cornelius, made many visits to the Ashville, NC area (one of the more beautiful areas I have been to). He decided he liked the area so much that he would build a summer estate there–one he called his “little mountain escape”. Except, um, it wasn’t little by any stretch of the imagination.

The Biltmore estate is the largest privately-owned home in the United States. It has 250 rooms in a whopping 175,000 square feet. That is one big house! I don’t know how anyone could ever consider it a “little mountain escape”. The estate has its own winery, village, and church. It is is very own, very expensive little community right there in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

If you ever get the chance to visit Ashville (and I recommend you find that chance), make sure to check out the Biltmore Estate. It is pricey (admission prices help with the upkeep–old houses take a lot), and if you want to go into the main house you will need a reservation because it is busy, but is is amazing. Even if you can’t afford it or you didn’t think to reserve a ticket, it is worth a glance. Even just diving out and looking over the house and grounds from the roadway is pretty breathtaking.

Also, watch the movie The Private Eyes for a little Biltmore goodness and a lot of laughs!