Finally visited the Biltmore House last week

COOL MAN

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Jun 19, 2001
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If you've never been there, I highly recommended you see it if you're ever in (or near) Greater Asheville NC. Without a doubt, the facility and grounds are nothing short of incredible (as they clearly SHOULD be, given the anything but cheap $50/head advanced admission fee).
 

WVUBRU

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Damn, it is$50 now? I have been a few times but last time there it was about half that amount.
 

COOL MAN

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Strictly speaking, regular adult admission currently is $60.....with a $10 discount to those who buy online 7 days in advance (and $5 from 1-6 days in advance). There are also plenty of other extra-cost tours.....rooftop, behind-the-scenes, group-guided, and personally-guided (at $150/head adult)......plus bus tours of the property.

Were you aware that most summer weekends (and other "special" days) also follow a reservation-only policy, in that you must choose a specific, pre-determined entry time (which the ticket buyer can select based on availability) ?? I thought I overheard someone say that such days are limited to a total of 4,000 tickets sold. Also, while there apparently are AAA-related admission discounts, that from my local club in Cincinnati was only $8 (less than the advanced purchase discount through the website). Perhaps they're lower in Greater Asheville (or other clubs in NC).

But make no mistake; if you take a family.....as I did.....the Biltmore can be a damned pricey proposition. Between admissions, an admittedly very pleasant lunch, and souvenirs.....my wife and daughter both "needed" Biltmore sweatshirts.....it was upwards of a $400 day (which didn't include local accommodations.....for which I used Rewards points for our two rooms.....and dining the previous night).
 
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TarHeelEer

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If you've never been there, I highly recommended you see it if you're ever in (or near) Greater Asheville NC. Without a doubt, the facility and grounds are nothing short of incredible (as they clearly SHOULD be, given the anything but cheap $50/head advanced admission fee).

My wife and I have annual passes. Going there in a couple weeks for a concert. Cedric's Tavern is great after doing the wine shopping thing. I still prefer downtown Asheville myself. Never a dull moment.

I went past Asheville down to near Brevard for this past weekend, in a near-secluded mountain cabin. I prefer that over anything Asheville.
 

COOL MAN

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My wife was/is incredulous that anyone would purchase a season pass (even thought she admittedly loves the place).....please explain your rationale for this purchase so that I can explain to her why it makes sense.

I get the impression their Concert series really picks-up this time of year. Natalie Cole and Peabo Bryson were performing the evening of our visit, and I understand ZZ Top is coming next weekend. A guide also mentioned the coming-soon Bruce Hornsby is an unusual local favorite.
 

TarHeelEer

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My wife was/is incredulous that anyone would purchase a season pass for that place (even thought she admittedly loves the place).....please explain your rationale for this purchase so that I can explain to her why it makes sense.

I get the impression their Concert series really picks-up this time of year. Natalie Cole and Peabo Bryson were performing the evening of our visit, and I understand ZZ Top is coming next weekend. A guide also mentioned the coming-soon Bruce Hornsby is an unusual local favorite.

Easy, we go more than twice per year.

I'm going to the Chris Tomlin/Mercy Me concert
 

COOL MAN

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Easy, we go more than twice per year.


Honest question.....and do what ?? I mean, do you tour the House more than twice a year with a goal of finding "new discoveries" ?? Or, do passes offer some form of preference regarding Concert series tickets (or other benefits for which I'm unaware) ??
 

TarHeelEer

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Honest question.....and do what ?? I mean, do you tour the House more than twice a year with a goal of finding "new discoveries" ?? Or, do passes offer some form of preference regarding Concert series tickets (or other benefits for which I'm unaware) ??

Oh no, the house is boring. We can day trip it there, so usually the wine shop is the top of the list, and resupply our stock. Drive the grounds, find a lake to stop at, go through the flower garden, etc. The garden is different every time we go. We haven't toured the house in... 3 years?

The Biltmore is usually the first stop, then we head downtown for the afternoon/evening.