‘A beacon of hope’: Biltmore one year after Helene

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — “It smelled like there was a wood factory, that smell of pine and oak from all the trees that were coming down,” says Bill Quade, reflecting upon what stood out in the days after Helene.

Quade is the director of horticulture at Biltmore Estate. While Biltmore itself survived with minimal damage, much of the surrounding gardens, trees, and fields – Quade’s pride and joy over the past three decades – were washed away.

“It does hit the heart,” Quade laments.

“But it also gives us an opportunity to say, ‘Okay, we’re going to step up and we’re going to overcome this.”

And overcome they did.

Quade and the entire Biltmore team worked tirelessly once the floods receded. The Estate was open to visitors again just five weeks after the storm – just in time for Christmas.

“We’ve tried to serve as a beacon of hope,” says Chase Pickering, “We wanted to be that signal that it was okay to come back and visit western North Carolina.”

Pickering, a fifth-generation Vanderbilt – and someone who lives at the estate – was astounded to see the progress made in such a short amount of time.

“I think it’s important that we take the time to reflect on the resilience of this community, but also celebrate the progress that has been made because so much has been done here in Western North Carolina,” Pickering beams.

You may remember this viral post from earlier this spring of the tulips at the estate.

Quade says even the smallest blooms can lead to economic booms.

“It was very symbolic that a lot of the work that we did in October, November, December, and January led to a really great spring display for our guests in the gardens, and I think it really helped boost the area, as well.”

A little reminder that even in the darkest of storms, hope springs eternal.