Jason Sandford
Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.
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Biltmore Estate officials gave local media representatives their first look at the brand new Village Hotel at Biltmore Estate on Thursday morning. The 210-room hotel is the first in a wave of new hotel construction in Asheville (though much of that construction is centered on downtown Asheville).
The Village Hotel is integrated into the Biltmore Estate’s Antler Village shopping center. As such, the hotel is geared toward active guests who want to get out and explore, rather than guests who aim to lounge and be pampered, according to Meghan Noel, who oversees the Village Hotel and the estate’s other lodging facility, the upscale Inn at Biltmore. With rooms starting at $129 a night, the Village Hotel is also a cheaper alternative than the 15-year-old Inn at Biltmore.
Visitors to the estate have long sought other lodging options, according to Biltmore spokeswoman Kathleen Moser. (The inn has enjoyed high occupancy rates since it opened, she says.) The Village Hotel features farm-like design features, such as natural wood accents, wrought iron and archival photos in the halls of long-ago estate farm workers. With its proximity to The Bistro restaurant, the winery and the shopping options, the whole idea is to create a space that can serve as home base for visitors on the go and exploring all the estate has to offer, says Moser.
The Bistro now offers breakfast, Moser notes, and The Village Social restaurant in the hotel gives guests yet another option. The Kitchen is a grab-and-go eatery for guests.
All photos are by photographer Marty Weil, for Ashvegas.com
I was on the estate 2 weeks ago and was walking past the new hotel and thought ‘wow, I’m surprised, it looks cheap’. The exterior I mean, I didn’t go inside.
Seems the stucco color needs to be darker and some framing added around the windows. It reminded me of the old Budgetel hotel brand. Like I said, surprising, given they are usually right on the money.
Comment about the smell is funny! I’m sure you’re right that it’s better.
Agreed. I actually thought maybe they’re not finished yet. Plus now you can’t see the historic clock tower on the Winery.
Honestly they could have done better. It looks like a nursing home.
The actual rooms look nice though. It probably smells better than a nursing home too.
The exterior and hallway photos do resemble assisted living facilities that I have visited, and those handrails on the staircase add to the affect. Maybe this hotel was designed for an older demographic?