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8 Village Lane Asheville, North
Carolina 28803 |
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Biltmore
Village, located at the entrance to Biltmore Estate, is a
classically-designed community that was constructed in the
late 1890's. The designer of the Biltmore House, Richard M.
Hunt was also the architect for All Souls
Church, Biltmore
Depot and the Estate office. The landscaping details for the
Village were produced by Frederick L. Olmstead who also
designed the grounds at the estate. Richard S. Smith was the
architect of record for the Village cottages, the school, the
infirmary and the post office.
Biltmore Village had a
"mini mall" of shops, clubs, a hospital, an Episcopal grade
school, a volunteer fire brigade, telephones, and access to
downtown Asheville by an electric street car line two blocks
away. The Village was planned as a complete new town. It had
the most modern amenities, street lights, macadam roads, brick
sidewalks, bathrooms, and electricity in every house. It
functioned as a middle class rental village through 1918 when
it was sold to consolidate daughter Cornelia's estate
following George Vanderbilt's death in 1914.
Through the years, the
Village has survived two "world wars", a severe flood that
caused three deaths, the "Great Depression", and the subsequent
closing of the Biltmore-Oteen Bank. In 1975, it became a
national historic site and in 1987, a local historic district.
Today Biltmore Village is a unique
community consisting of shops, galleries, restaurants, and
condominiums housed in the original Village buildings which
makes it an exquisite place to reside. |
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