Biltmore Estate works to repair Helene damage in Asheville: NPR

A Duke Energy lineman works on a line at Biltmore Village following Hurricane Helene on September 28 in Asheville, North Carolina

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The Biltmore Estate, the Vanderbilts' extravagant former home and one of North Carolina's biggest attractions, was among the buildings destroyed last week by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.

Buncombe County, where the 8,000-acre property is located, is considered one of the areas hardest hit by Helene. As of Thursday, at least 72 people had died in the county and 200 people were still missing after the storm, member station BPR reported. According to local authorities, over 74,000 customers were without power there on Saturday morning.

Damage from flooding at Biltmore Village, an off-estate enclave, after Hurricane Helene on September 28 in Asheville, North Carolina

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A man walks past damaged vehicles in the Biltmore Village across from the Biltmore Estate following Hurricane Helene on October 1 in Asheville, North Carolina

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The Biltmore has been a fixture in Asheville, NC since 1895. According to its website, it attracts an estimated 1.7 million visitors each year.

In a social media post, the Biltmore Estate said low-lying areas, including the entrance and farm, were experiencing significant flooding. Parts of the forest areas that make up a large portion of the property also suffered wind damage. It said some of the property's animals were lost during the storm, but the “vast majority” were safe and accounted for.

The property did not specify which animals were lost, but the farm is home to chickens, lambs, calves, goats and draft horses.

“We are heartbroken for our friends, family and neighbors in this area who were devastated by this storm,” the estate said. “We are forever grateful to our first responders, utility workers and community volunteers for your endless care and courage. We will all work together to recover from this unprecedented disaster.”

The Biltmore House, as well as the estate's conservatory, winery, gardens and hotels, sustained minimal or no damage from the storm. But Biltmore Estate said it was still assessing the area Thursday and that crews were still clearing the roads so they could begin repairs.

A sign commenting on the 1916 flood lies on the ground next to a flooded waterway near Biltmore Village after Hurricane Helene on September 28, 2024.

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The Biltmore said it will remain closed until further notice, adding that initial estimates suggest it will remain closed to guests at least until Oct. 15.

Helene made landfall in the Big Bend region of Florida on September 26 as a Category 4 storm. It led to a trail of destruction through the southeastern United States and the southern Appalachians. More than a week has passed, but the number of residents killed and missing continues to rise as much of the region struggles to restore power.

Meanwhile, new consequences and damage from the storm continue to emerge. Spruce Pine, a town in the Appalachian Mountains, also has an abundance of pure quartz, essential for microchips and solar panels. Helene dropped 24.12 inches of rain on Spruce Pine. Although it is still unclear how the mines that produce the quartz are faring, there are already concerns about the outsourcing of quartz from the region and whether this will impact semiconductor supply chains.

Baxter International's plant in Marion, North Carolina, about 35 miles outside Asheville, is a major supplier of intravenous fluids used in hospitals across the country. The plant is now decommissioned and covered in mud. On Thursday, the company said it had “no timeline for resuming operations.”