Movies filmed at Biltmore
For decades, Biltmore Estate has been a part of many filming projects and Hollywood classics and blockbusters, including “Forest Gump,” “Hannibal” and “The Last of the Mohicans.” The estate has been used as the set for car commercials, fashion shoots and other commercial projects.
“We are a unique location in America and there are other large homes with beautiful furnishings but that fact that we have the views, the furnishings, the vistas, the house, the setting, the environment — it’s like we’re the total package,” said Travis Tatham, director of destination entertainment and events at Biltmore, who acts as the liaison between the estate and filmmakers, including the Hallmark production team.
In “Richie Rich,” the 250-room Biltmore House first lived in by the famed entrepreneur in 1895, was portrayed as Richie Rich’s mansion. However, this is the first time for Biltmore House to be featured in a movie as Biltmore House.
“It was very important to us to showcase Biltmore House and for everyone to enjoy Biltmore House — what we get to do every day,” Tatham said.
“We want the Hallmark customers and fan base to really be able to see what Biltmore is, and our request to Hallmark was that you treat it like it’s a character in the movie. So, we feel like they did an excellent job at doing that — at showcasing the house and the staff made it look great and everyone did what we had to do to make it one of the main characters in the movie,” Tatham said.
A ‘magical’ experience
For 13 years, Turner worked in Biltmore’s marketing department as the programming and production manager responsible for audio and video components on the estate.
“A Biltmore Christmas” brought a new experience and perspective and set of memories — and new friendships — gained in her two days on the set.
“Biltmore is a magical place, and there’s nothing like being in Biltmore House when there’s not tourists and guests,” Turner said. “It’s so special because you’re able to experience Biltmore House — even though you’re on a film set — like the Vanderbilts and the guests of the Vanderbilts did.”
Whiteley and Talley are colleagues and friends who’ve worked on many productions together over the years, largely through Synthetic Cinema International, a production company that has produced nearly 20 films for Hallmark.
Whiteley’s resume includes Hallmark’s “One Royal Holiday,” “Sugar Plum Twist,” “Sand Dollar Cove,” “Taking the Reins,” and the Netflix documentary, “Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me.”
Talley said she’s worked on nearly 17 Hallmark movies, including the aforementioned and “Mystic Christmas,” “Next Stop, Christmas” and “A Holiday Spectacular.”
Recent non-Hallmark productions include “Black Flies” (2023) starring Tye Sheridan, Sean Penn and Mike Tyson.
However, nothing compares to their experience filming at the famed home in their “backyard,” they said.
“It’s magical and a part of that lends itself to the setting. It’s a gorgeous house,” Talley said. “This place at Christmas encompasses Christmas feelings and our crew did a great job in helping capture that essence of Christmas and the magic.”
Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times .