The vivid blue glass tubes twisted from the earth, stretching and twisting upwards, reaching towards the blue sky. We weren’t caught in a sci-fy fantasy movie, we were visiting the Chihuly Exhibition at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.
The unique glass sculpture pieces, created by world-renowned American artist Dale Chihuly, add color and innovative artistry to the surrounding Biltmore history in a tasteful and elegant art exhibition. It took two years for the 16 glass sculpture exhibits to be installed throughout the Biltmore mansion, gardens and grounds.
The Chihuly Glass Exhibition at the Biltmore runs from May 17th to October 7th 2018. The installations are available to viewing and included in the Biltmore ticket price. A nighttime viewing of the Chihuly Exhibition is available for an added fee.
Viewing the Chihuly at the Biltmore with your Family
Upon check-in, each visitor will receive an exhibition map. The majority of the glass exhibits are located in the Biltmore gardens. There are 2 additional installations located at Antler Hill Village, which is a neat place to stop for a snack or ice cream. Kids can run and play on the playground or try their hand at more traditional country games in the neat historic barn on the Farm.
Have your child check-off the Chihuly installations on the exhibition map as you view them, and take your time by them. Each installation has a name, like the Sole d’Oro, Paintbrush Tower, or our kids’ favorite- the Niijima Floats. The names are located at the left hand-side on your exhibition map.
After viewing the glass artwork, ask your child which piece was their favorite and why. Was it the color or shapes? Did it remind them of something familiar? Ask everyone what was their least favorite of the exhibits and why. This makes for great dinner conversation or a chat in the car ride on the way home.
Chihuly Nights
Chihuly Nights at the Biltmore Estate combine the day fun with nighttime viewing of the glass sculptures. Prices vary according to their peak and regular times- see their website for more details.
Eating at the Biltmore
The Biltmore Estate is HUGE! It can take the entire day to tour the estate. Come early before the crowds and plan to eat at an odd hour, as the cafes can get very busy. The Courtyard Market in the stables at the house offers hotdogs and light lunch with outdoor patio tables. The adjacent bakery has fantastic sandwiches and baked goods, and the Stable Cafe offers table-service dining. Other dining options, including farm to table and pub fare, are available at Antler Hill Village, buffet dining Deerpark and fine dining at The Inn on Biltmore Estate.
Things to Know Before You Go:
- The Biltmore is located at 1 Lodge Street, Asheville, North Carolina 28803
- Contact number: 1.800.543.2961
- Admission varies for peak days (Saturday and Sundays- check their calendar for peak days) $75 and regular days (M-F) $67
- Special offers: Kids 16 and under are free from May 25th to September 3rd 2018! If you purchase your tickets online from their website a week or more in advance, you receive $10 off each ticket price.
- Your ticket price includes a self-guided tour of the Biltmore mansion and gardens with daytime access to the Chihuly exhibits; access to the Antler Hill Village for shopping, dining & exploring & a free wine tasting at the Antler Hill Village Winery with grape juice for the kids 🙂
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It’s expensive but looks like so much fun. I would not have expected this in North Carolina!
You can get discounts online right now, as long as you get a ticket 7 days in advance- and kids 16 and under are free this summer 😉
This looks like such a cool exhibit. We have talked about going to Biltmore for years but have yet to visit. I will definitely have to add it to my list. Thanks for the great share!
Yes, it was an incredible exhibit- and fit perfectly into the Biltmore landscape. You should definitely go before it ends (October 7th!)
I’ve always wanted to visit the Biltmore! The chiluly exhibit seems like a special time to go. I go to Raleigh often, but never been to Asheville!
The exhibit only runs until October 7th, and Asheville is such a sweet place…definitely worth a trip 😉