NC’s Biltmore House featured in Hallmark Channel’s “A Biltmore Christmas”

One of North Carolina’s most famous and historic landmarks will be on full display this weekend as the Hallmark Channel debuts “A Biltmore Christmas” this Sunday, November 26. 

The Biltmore House in Asheville will be featured as part of the cable channel’s 2023 “Countdown to Christmas.” 

The story features a screenwriter hired to write the script for a remake of a 1940s Christmas movie that was originally filmed at the Biltmore House. When the head of the studio isn’t happy with the script’s ending, he sends Lucy (Bethany Joy Lenz), the screenwriter, to Biltmore for inspiration. While there, she is transported back in time to 1947 with the help of an hourglass. Lucy becomes close with one of the original film’s stars (Kristoffer Polaha), and drama ensues.

“The Biltmore is absolutely its own character in this movie,” said Lenz in a trailer for the film. “This place is magical.” 

Polaha echoed Lenz’ sentiments. 

“Viewers are going to love the fact that they can have this very intimate tour of Biltmore House,” he said.

Filming took place in January in several locations across the Biltmore Estate, including the Gardens, Conservatory, and The Inn. According to Citizen-times.com, other areas outside the estate that were used for filming included Chemist Spirits’ Antidote cocktail bar, office space above Jerusalem Garden Café in downtown Asheville, and a train station in Hendersonville. 

Here are a few fun facts about the movie, according to Biltmore.com:

· Over 8,000 people submitted applications online to be cast as extras, which Hallmark producers said is the most they’ve ever received. Only 300 Asheville-area locals were hired. 

· 200 yards of artificial snow were used.

· Nine rooms inside Biltmore House were used for filming: The Library, Tapestry Gallery, Main Hallway, Staircase Hall, Vestibule, Winter Garden, Banquet Hall, the corridor around the Winter Garden, and the corridor behind the Banquet Hall.

· Four rooms at The Inn were used as film sets: The Lobby, the Library Lounge, and two guest rooms.

· Biltmore is mentioned nine times in the film.

· 15 days of filming took place at the estate.

“A Biltmore Christmas” is the first movie to spotlight the estate itself in a movie. 

Other movies that have used the estate as a setting include The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2011), Hannibal (2001), Patch Adams (1998), My Fellow Americans (1996), Richie Rich (1994), Forrest Gump (1994), The Last of The Mohicans (1992), Mr. Destiny (1990) The Private Eyes (1980) and The Swan (1956).

The Biltmore House is a National Historic Landmark known as America’s Largest Home, spanning 175,000 square feet, more than four acres of floor space. The 250-room French Renaissance chateau includes 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65 fireplaces. It took six years to construct. George Vanderbilt first opened his home to family and friends on Christmas Eve, 1895.

The estate currently sits on approximately 8,000 acres, but during Vanderbilt’s lifetime, it was about 125,000 acres, which included property later sold to the federal government to create Pisgah National Forest.

The Biltmore first opened to the public in 1930 at the request of the City of Asheville to increase tourism during the Great Depression and to strengthen the estate’s finances. 

The Biltmore is open every day of the year for tours but is especially popular at Christmastime. 

“A Biltmore Christmas” premieres Sunday, Nov. 26 at 8 pm on The Hallmark Channel. 

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