Cedar Crest Inn, an 1891 Queen Anne Victorian mansion, half a mile from the Biltmore gates.
Fourteen rooms and suites across the mansion, the Carriage House and the Stables, on three manicured acres with wraparound porches, stained glass and a century of stories in the woodwork.
The House
Cedar Crest was built in 1891 for William E. Breese, founder of the First Bank of Asheville, four years before Biltmore House opened in 1895. Some of the same artisans who worked on Biltmore were contracted to build this house, and it shows: first generation oak and walnut throughout, high pitched twin gables, turrets, gingerbread trim and ironwork.
Step into a grand foyer paneled in rich oak, gathered around an imposing fireplace, with a Tiffany stained glass window in teal blue and harvest gold. The parlor keeps its Baroque style mantel and original beveled glass mirror; the old Gentlemen's Room, now the Study, still holds its tiger oak player piano. Asheville's longest running historic inn, and its closest inn to Biltmore Estate.
Innkeeper Kelly Thornton welcomes you, and is happy to help plan your Asheville days.
Rooms & Suites
Ten rooms and suites in the mansion, three in the Carriage House behind it, and an apartment sized suite in the old Stables. Every stay includes continental breakfast, free parking and free Wi-Fi. Rates are based on double occupancy; current rates and availability are on our booking page.
Three floors of Victorian rooms, from a ground floor study with its own entrance to a turret hideaway under the eaves.
Ground floor of the main house with its own private entrance, named for Arthur F. Reese, the second owner of the house. Queen bed and a Victorian style settee, a full bath with a cast iron claw foot tub and shower, plus an additional half bathroom inside the private entryway.
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Second floor, facing the front. A sunny room with two large windows, a queen bed and a private bathroom with a cast iron claw foot tub and shower combination. The decorative gas fireplace is a period piece and is not operational.
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Named for its Juliet window balcony, on the second floor facing the front. A cozy queen bedroom where an antique vanity has been fitted with a sink, and the private water closet holds a stall shower and toilet.
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Named after the home's original owner and builder, the prominent banker William E. Breese. A sunny second floor corner room with a queen bed and a small private bathroom with a shower stall and pedestal sink.
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Second floor, rear corner, and one of our most popular rooms. A king bed, armchairs for reading, and a private bathroom with a cast iron tub and shower combination.
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Second floor, overlooking the rear gardens. History tells us this charming room once belonged to the head servant of the Breese household, silver closet and all. Queen four poster bed, and a private bathroom with a large cast iron claw foot tub, shower and pedestal sink.
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Third floor, named for Minnie Page, who bought the house in 1937 and loved it for 40 years. A king bed and a twin bed sleep up to three guests (age 12 and older), with a private bathroom just outside the room, wrapped in heavy draperies for a private foyer feel.
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A third floor getaway of its own. King bed and twin bed for up to three guests (ages 12 and older), and a large turret bathroom with a cast iron claw foot tub and hand held shower.
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Third floor. Two cheery rooms connected by a private foyer and bathroom: a king bedroom overlooking the rear gardens and a queen bedroom facing the front, each with its own television and sitting chair, sharing a bathroom with a jetted tub and shower.
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Down a brick pathway on the garden level of the mansion, wonderfully secluded, with a large private veranda and entrance. Sitting room, king bed, a jetted tub with a rain-effect shower head, coffee service and a mini-fridge. Pet friendly.
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A two story house tucked behind the mansion, with vaulted ceilings, a living room, a fully equipped kitchen, a dining room and an outdoor deck. Rooms book separately, or take the whole house for up to 8 guests; add the Stables Suite below and sleep 10.
First floor. A large bedroom with a king bed, walk-in closet and a small sitting area, a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, and a private door onto the outside veranda deck. Shared kitchen, living room and dining room.
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First floor. A large high back king bed, flat screen TV, and a private bathroom with a walk-in shower. Shared kitchen, living room and dining room.
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A two bedroom suite on the second floor, in cottage style furniture: one bedroom with a queen bed, the second with a full-size bed, one private bathroom between them. Sleeps up to four, and the entire second floor is yours.
Check ratesUnder the Carriage House, on the ground level where the horses and buggies were once housed.
An apartment sized suite with its own private patio, outdoor seating and private parking. Full kitchen, living area with floor to ceiling screened windows, two flat screen televisions, a king bed and a bathroom with a large walk-in shower. Come for a night, or stay for a week. Pet friendly.
Check ratesBreakfast
Begin the day in the dining rooms or out on the veranda, at a private table for two or a larger family style table. Locally roasted Deep Time coffee, an assortment of hot teas and juice, yogurt parfaits with house-made granola, fresh fruit, hard boiled eggs, and an assortment of bagels and muffins.
Through the day, help yourself to complimentary teas, coffee and fresh baked cookies, a small tradition our guests tend to remember. If you have dietary restrictions or food allergies, contact us before arrival and we will do our best to accommodate.
Local Guide
Cedar Crest sits on a hill above Biltmore Avenue: Biltmore at the bottom of the street, downtown a short hop the other way. Our innkeepers are glad to help you plan; here is the lay of the land, with distances from the inn's own location guide.
Entrance half a mile
America's largest home, and our mansion was finished four years before it opened in 1895. Allow a full day if you can: the self-guided house tour alone takes about 2 hours, then the Walled Garden and Conservatory are an easy one mile round trip walk, and a wine tasting at the Winery in Antler Hill Village is included in your ticket. Buy tickets in advance, as peak days sell out; booking a week ahead on Biltmore's site can save up to $10 per person, and guests can use the inn's promo code "cedarcrest" at biltmore.com/partners for a discount.
Half a mile
The village built for Biltmore's workers and artisans, now restaurants and shops at the estate gates. An easy evening stroll from the inn for dinner after a day on the estate.
1.5 miles
A hundred restaurants, live music, galleries and independent shops, a mile and a half up Biltmore Avenue. Park once and wander; the inn is close enough that coming back for a porch break is easy.
1.5 miles
Asheville's craft brewery district, plus one of the Southeast's best loved live music rooms. Go for a tasting flight in the afternoon, stay for a show at night.
2.5 miles
Working artists' studios in old industrial buildings along the French Broad River. Many studios welcome visitors to watch pieces being made; combine it with a riverside walk.
Visitor Center 5 miles
The Parkway's Asheville visitor center is five miles from the inn, and the Folk Art Center sits just beyond it. For a first taste, drive a short stretch north toward Craggy Gardens in season, and check the Parkway's own alerts for closures before you set out.
I-40 exit 1 mile · AVL airport
From I-40, take Exit 50 and drive about a mile; the inn is on your right, up a steep driveway just after Caledonia Street, so slow down early. Heading south on Biltmore Avenue, watch for our blue and white sign on the left. One classic trap: if you find yourself in the left lane heading north on Biltmore Avenue, the road forks toward Biltmore Estate, so stay right for downtown. Asheville Regional Airport (AVL) has non-stop service to 20+ major cities.
From the inn's own Biltmore guide
The Christmas season is the busiest time at Biltmore; midweek visits are quieter, and candlelight evenings book up far ahead. Even with advance tickets, stop at the welcome center past the gate for the intro video and the day's updates, and wear comfortable shoes: from the entrance you still drive about 2 miles to the house parking areas, with shuttles from the lots to the front door.
Gallery
Good to Know
Check-in is between 3 pm and 5 pm daily, and until 6 pm on Fridays. Check-out is by 11 am. Special arrangements may be made for late arrivals after 5 pm; please contact the inn before your arrival date to schedule. Early check-in before 3 pm may be possible for a $25 fee, based on availability.
At the time of booking, 50% of the reservation balance will be collected. The remaining balance is due under the terms of your confirmation.
If a cancellation is received more than 72 hours prior to your arrival date, your deposit will be refunded to your credit or debit card less a $50.00 processing fee per room. Inside 72 hours, you can either move your reservation dates, or we will issue a gift certificate for the full amount of your deposit. Early departures and no-shows are treated as cancellations.
Pets are not allowed in the Main Inn and Carriage House rooms. Our Serenity Suite and Stables Suite are pet friendly. A pet fee of $50 per pet is required; a maximum of 2 pets are allowed.
Children under the age of 12 are typically not permitted. If you would like to travel with a child under 12, please call us directly to see if arrangements can be made.
All nightly rates are for double occupancy; each additional person is $30 per person, per night. A $15 facility fee per room, per day helps us maintain the house and grounds, and a two-night minimum exists on most weekends. Smoking is not permitted inside the inn or on the porches; a designated smoking area is provided.
FAQ
Current rates are shown on our booking page. You can check availability and book directly through the Book Direct button on this page, or call us at (828) 252-1389.
A complimentary continental breakfast is served daily from 8:30 to 9:30 am in the dining rooms or on the veranda: locally roasted Deep Time coffee, hot teas and juice, yogurt parfaits with house-made granola, fresh fruit, hard boiled eggs, and an assortment of bagels and muffins.
At the time of booking, 50% of the reservation balance will be collected.
Cancel more than 72 hours before arrival and your deposit is refunded less a $50.00 processing fee per room. Inside 72 hours, you can move your dates, or we will issue a gift certificate for the full amount of your deposit.
Pets are not allowed in the Main Inn and Carriage House rooms. The Serenity Suite and Stables Suite are pet friendly, with a pet fee of $50 per pet and a maximum of 2 pets.
The Biltmore Estate entrance and Biltmore Village are half a mile away. Downtown Asheville is 1.5 miles, the River Arts District is 2.5 miles, and the Blue Ridge Parkway Visitor Center is 5 miles.
Yes. The Carriage House rooms can be combined for entire house use for up to 8 people, or up to 10 with the Stables Suite below. Call us at (828) 252-1389 to reserve multiple rooms or the entire house.
Book Direct
Booking direct keeps it simple: our own booking page, our own innkeepers, and help from people who know which room catches the morning sun.
Write to us any time, or text the name on your reservation to opt in to arrival updates.
Text: (828) 373-2300