Company History

George W. Vanderbilt originally founded Biltmore Farms based on his visionary theories of sustainable agricultural practices and forest conservation. While initially intended to self sustain his Asheville, North Carolina, Biltmore Estate, surplus production evolved into home delivery and wholesale milk supply to the local Asheville hotel and healthcare industries. Stressing the highest levels of quality in all things associated with the Biltmore name, Vanderbilt imported the finest pedigreed Jersey cattle directly from Britain into his herds.

Under the leadership of Vanderbilt’s grandson George H.V. Cecil, Biltmore Farms eventually grew to supply milk and ice cream to five states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Georgia. Biltmore Farms products were renowned for quality; serving ice cream and milkshakes, its Dairy Bars were a family favorite for generations.

The company became a separate entity from The Biltmore Company in 1979 and eventually sold its dairy operation to Pet, Incorporated in the 1980s though the company retains a smaller herd of Jersey cattle, many with pedigrees going back to the original Vanderbilt herd, near Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Since that time, Biltmore Farms evolved into Western North Carolina’s most prominent community development firm. The company’s more than 140 employees now operate four major divisions focusing on communities, home building, hotels and commercial properties.

To learn more about Biltmore Farms history, visit BiltmoreFarms.com.