All About the Real-Life Mansion Where Hallmark'sA Biltmore ChristmasWas Filmed (That You Can Visit During the Holidays!)

Mar. 15, 2025

Kristoffer Polaha as Jack Huston and Bethany Joy Lenz as Lucy Hardgrove in ‘A Biltmore Christmas,’ 2023.Photo:David Scott Holloway/Hallmark Media

David Scott Holloway/Hallmark Media

In 2023,A Biltmore Christmaswas released as part ofHallmark’s holiday movie lineup, highlighting the wonder and beauty of the largest privately owned house in the United States.

Notably, people flock to the estate during the holidays as its halls are decked for Christmas, including with a 35-ft. Fraser fir,a tradition that first startedwhen Vanderbilt opened the home in 1895.

An outside view of Biltmore House’s front lawn in Asheville, N.C., on Oct. 20, 2016.George Rose/Getty

George Rose/Getty

Although Biltmore “received minimal or no damage,” the 250-room French Renaissance mansion closed its doors for more than a month for cleaning and recovery efforts. It officially reopened for business on Nov. 2 — just in time to “celebrate the joy of the holiday season.”

The stunning property has been the backdrop for many films over the years, includingThe Swan(1956),Forrest Gump(1993),Richie Rich(1994),Patch Adams(1998) and nowA Biltmore Christmas. However, Hallmark’s movie marks the first time the house has had a central role in the storyline.

A film preview of ‘A Biltmore Christmas,’ 2023

StarringOne Tree HillalumBethany Joy Lenzand Kristoffer Polaha, the film follows a screenwriter named Lucy Hardgrove as she plans to recreate a beloved holiday movie titledHis Merry Wife!, filmed at Biltmore House in 1947. While visiting the estate for inspiration, a magical hourglass transports her back in time to when the original movie was filmed, setting into motion a series of mystical events.

Chase Pickering, vice president at Biltmore and Vanderbilt’s great-great grandson, played a big role in getting Hallmark to film at the historic location.

“The movieA Biltmore Christmaswas the perfect collaboration between Biltmore, known for our Christmas celebration, and Hallmark Channel, known for their Christmas movies," Pickering told PEOPLE. He explained that after previously doing a college internship with Wonya Lucas, former CEO of Hallmark Media, when she was at a different company, the two stayed in touch and eventually reconnected in March 2022 when she visited Biltmore for the first time.

“I pitched Wonya the idea, she loved it and sent Hallmark’s development and production teams down to meet with us,” he said. “Hallmark Channel welcomed [the Biltmore team’s] creative input during the storyline development, and we were engaged throughout the entire process.” After brainstorming the concept of time travel, Pickering said he referenced Vanderbilt’s “spectacular hourglass” in his bedroom, which was replicated for the movie prop.

Several otherlocations in North Carolinaare spotlighted in the film. From the rooms at Biltmore to hot spots around the charming town of Asheville, here are some of the most notable places seen inA Biltmore Christmas.

Front lawn

Bethany Joy Lenz as Lucy Hardgrove in ‘A Biltmore Christmas,’ 2023.Hallmark Media

Hallmark Media

Of course, one of the notable filming locations is Biltmore House’s front lawn, which boasts a 55-ft. Norway spruce wrapped with 55,000 lights. In the film’s trailer, Lucy can be seen walking on the lawn during a night tour of the home, known asCandlelight Christmas Eveningsduring the holiday season.

Banquet hall

Bethany Joy Lenz as Lucy Hardgrove and Kristoffer Polaha as Jack Huston in ‘A Biltmore Christmas,’ 2023.Hallmark Media

As Lucy goes on a tour of Biltmore House at the beginning of the film, she steps into the banquet hall, the largest room on the property, which fittingly includes the largest tree inside the house, a 35-ft. Fraser fir.

Christmas decor seen inside the banquet hall of Biltmore House.The Biltmore Company

The Biltmore Company

The annual tree-raising, which usually takes place in early November, marks the beginning of Christmas at Biltmore. Christmas decor typically stays up through the first week of January, with this year’s display in place until Jan. 5, 2025.

The library

Jonathan Drakes as Winston and Bethany Joy Lenz as Lucy Hardgrove in ‘A Biltmore Christmas,’ 2023.Hallmark Media

In honor of the film’s release in 2023, the holiday decor in the library that year was based on the 1940s plot line, including a tinsel-covered Christmas tree in the center of the room. Hallmark’s hourglass was also exhibited in the library throughout that Christmas season.

Christmas decor seen inside Biltmore House’s library.The Biltmore Company

The grand entry hall

Thegrand entry hallplays a major part in the movie as the location of Lucy’s big “Cinderella moment,” when she attends a party with Jack in a gorgeous vintage dress. During the party scene, the wives of two Vanderbilt family members have cameos: Pickering’s wife, Clary Pickering; and Ryan Cecil’s wife, Rebecca Cecil.

Tapestry gallery

Just outside the library’s doors is the tapestry gallery, where costumes fromHis Merry Wife!are showcased in the film. After time-traveling for the first time, Lucy appears in this room as she compares her call sheet to the one on display. Above the library’s doors are paintings of Vanderbilt and his wife, Edith, whom he married in 1898 a few years after Biltmore opened.

Winter garden

Bethany Joy Lenz as Lucy Hardgrove and Kristoffer Polaha as Jack Huston in ‘A Biltmore Christmas,’ 2023.Hallmark Channel/Youtube

Hallmark Channel/Youtube

Another notable filming location from the movie is the winter garden, where Lucy interacts with Jack for one of the first times after traveling back to the set ofHis Merry Wife!On a tour of Biltmore House, it’s usually one of the first rooms you see.

Biltmore’s conservatory

During alate-night stroll with Jack, Lucy is seen walking in front of Biltmore’s conservatory, which includes poinsettias and numerous exotic orchids during Christmas. For filming, the conservatory’s glass ceiling was lit blue to give it some extra holiday magic.

The Inn on Biltmore Estate

A Christmas tree seen inside Biltmore House.The Biltmore Company

Antidote at Chemist Spirits

In the film, Lucy and several other characters grab drinks at an old-fashioned bar. This scene was not filmed at Biltmore but rather at a local bar in Asheville called Antidote at Chemist Spirits. The perfect setting for the 1940s location, the bar offers “1900s Apothecary Style & Aesthetics with a craft cocktail selection to match,”per its website.

Hendersonville train station

Toward the end of the film, Lucy goes to a local train station and convinces one of the stars ofHis Merry Wife!to rejoin the movie. Unlike other filming locations, this scene was filmed at a historic train station in Hendersonville, N.C.

Lucy’s office

Lucy’s office at the beginning of the movie was filmed at an advertising agency in Asheville, called Market Connections.

source: people.com