Our Commitment to Preserving What Makes Western NC Unique

Guided by our five core tenets, Biltmore Farms, LLC has a longstanding commitment to the environment and enhancing the quality of life in our mountain home.?We are devoted to preserving the beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains to ensure residents and visitors may continue to enjoy the many one-of-a-kind experiences Western North Carolina has to offer.

Our commitment to the environment dates back to 1895 when upon acquiring vast tracts of land in Western North Carolina, George W. Vanderbilt consulted with Frederick Law Olmsted and Gifford Pinchot to establish best practices that promoted the health and vibrancy of the land. Olmsted, who is widely considered the father of landscape architecture, and Pinchot, a pioneer of U.S. forestry and conservation, collaborated with Vanderbilt to plan and implement innovative conservation and sustainability practices that would result in the forest lands under his ownership being properly managed and restored to a healthier and more sustainable state. These efforts helped transform significant portions of rugged land into thriving forests and gardens. With both financial backing and encouragement from Vanderbilt, in 1896, Carl Alwin Schenck established the Biltmore Forest School, the first scientific school of forestry, an institution that played an essential role in training the first generation of America’s professional foresters. Today the Cradle of Forestry Historic Site near Brevard commemorates Biltmore Forest School and the beginning of forest conservation in America.

The family’s pledge to environmental preservation expanded even wider in 1914 when Edith Vanderbilt sold more than 86,000 acres of land to the U.S government to be managed as public lands. This established the Pisgah National Forest we know and love today and ensured its protection and preservation for enjoyment by future generations. Biltmore Farms supports the philosophy that our national forests are invaluable treasures to be preserved not only because of their beauty but also because of the recreational and educational opportunities they make accessible to all people.

Today we carry this legacy of environmental stewardship through civic engagement and operational protocols. Our Hilton Asheville Biltmore Park hotel, which earned LEED? Silver certification based on its green design and construction features, exemplifies how Biltmore Farms combines sustainability with exceptional features and quality in its properties. Members of our executive team actively engage in a wide variety of local organizations that support the region's environment and quality of life. Our company’s development projects and communities will continue to coexist and celebrate the natural environment, preserving ample green space and woodland forests while promoting walking and biking through trails and greenways.