Biltmore estate is the largest mansion in America as I know.
The estate has 100,000 acres of land. The huge mansion has 250 rooms.
The construction began on 1889 and lasted about 6 years before finished. It had the state-of-the-art
technologies and equipments at that time such as in-door swimming pool, bowling, refrigerator
and an organ with mechanical pump. The estate was built by George Vanderbilt. He called his estate "Biltmore"
- from "Bildt", the Dutch town where his ancestors originated, and "more", and old English word for
open, rolling land.
Today the estate is managed as a company. They charge $40 to visitors for day tour.
It is the most expensive entrance fee I know of yet the business looks great. It is always
crowded with visitors at almost any day of the year.
