Fans of the holidays, mystery, time travel, and romantic comedy were in for a treat when A Biltmore Christmas premiered on Hallmark Channel in November 2023!
Take a peek behind the scenes with some fun, “by the numbers” tidbits about the making of this festive yuletide movie.
How to Watch: Check your local listings for viewing on Hallmark Channel or stream on-demand with Hallmark TV, Peaco*ck, Hulu + Live TV, YouTubeTV, and other subscription services.
Bethany Joy Lenz as Lucy Hardgrove in “A Biltmore Christmas,” by Hallmark Media. @2023 Hallmark Media/Photographer David Scott Holloway.
About A Biltmore Christmas
Filmed at Biltmore in January 2023, this Hallmark movie features locations across the historic estate, including the Gardens, Conservatory, and The Inn on Biltmore Estate. Biltmore’s long history as a film location dates back to the Golden Age of Hollywood, but for the first time, Biltmore House has a central role in the storyline of A Biltmore Christmas.
The film centers on the fictional story about a modern-day screenwriter Lucy Hardgrove (Bethany Joy Lenz) and Jack Huston (Kristoffer Polaha), the dashing lead of the beloved holiday movie His Merry Wife!, first filmed at Biltmore House in 1947. The classic movie is scheduled to be re-filmed at the iconic estate, but a mysterious hourglass intervenes, and Lucy is transported back in time to 1946 as the cast and crew prepare to re-make the classic movie.
Kristoffer Polaha as Jack Huston in “A Biltmore Christmas,” produced by Hallmark Media. @2023 Hallmark Media/Photographer David Scott Holloway
A behind-the-scenes look by the numbers:
- 8 vintage cars were used during the filming of A Biltmore Christmas.
- 200 yards of artificial snow were used.
- 300 Asheville-area locals were hired as extras in the movie.
- 8,000+ people submitted applications online to be cast as extras, which Hallmark producers said is the most they’ve ever received.
- 9 rooms inside Biltmore House were used for filming: The Library, Tapestry Gallery, Main Hallway, Staircase Hall, Vestibule, Winter Garden, Banquet Hall, the corridor around the Winter Garden, and the corridor behind the Banquet Hall.
- 4 out of the nine rooms were decorated with a 1940s theme. Some of these rooms had multiple variations: some were made to look like an everyday room in the 1940s; a 1940s movie set; or a room set for a 1940s party. Except for the Library, all of the interiors were redecorated for present-day scenes with variations made for the “one-year later” conclusion. Wow, time travel can be confusing!
- 2 exterior locations directly attached to Biltmore House were used for filming scenes: The Loggia and the Library Terrace.
- 4 rooms at The Inn on Biltmore Estate were used as film sets: The Lobby, the Library Lounge, and two guest rooms.
- 11 costumes were worn by star Bethany Joy Lenz in A Biltmore Christmas. Four of them were 1940s-era costumes. Of the collection of 1940s looks costume designer Keith Nielsen created for Lenz’s character Lucy Hardgrove, Lucy’s Finale Ballgown is perhaps the most dramatic. Nielsen sourced an original Carolina Herrera design specifically for its fabric reminiscent of men’s tie patterns of the era. Modifications included a gathered bust that drapes around the back and the addition of a tiered tulle underlayer. Lucy’s necklace is an original 1930s Czech crystal from the collection of Nielsen. This costume will be on display at The Inn on Biltmore Estate throughout the holidays.
- 1 hourglass is used as a plot point in the movie.
- Biltmore is mentioned 9 times in the film.
- 15 days of filming took place at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.
In 2023, the Library Christmas Tree was based on the 1940s plot line of Hallmark’s “A Biltmore Christmas”
The magic of A Biltmore Christmas
During the 2023 Christmas season, Biltmore guests enjoyed a look at the mysterious hourglass in the Library of Biltmore House, several costumes worn by stars Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha, as well as props from the set were on display at The Inn on Biltmore Estate, Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate, Traditions in Antler Hill Village, and at the estate’s Reception and Ticketing Sales Center.
For extra holiday-movie-magic, the décor in the Library was based on the 1940s plot line of the movie, featuring classic red and green elements, with dramatic cascades of silver-sequined tinsel adorning the room’s Christmas tree.
Treat yourself to the beloved estate tradition known as Christmas at Biltmore!
Now that you’ve enjoyed a behind-the-scenes look at the making of A Biltmore Christmas, book your tickets or special overnight stay packages on Biltmore Estate so you can match up iconic Hallmark movie moments with their real-life settings during Christmas at Biltmore!
FAQs
A behind-the-scenes look by the numbers:
How much of A Biltmore Christmas was filmed at the Biltmore? ›
More than 8,000 people applied to be cast as extras, a record high, per Hallmark producers. Details: The film was shot over 13 days at the Biltmore Estate, a Hallmark Media spokesperson tells Axios. Nine rooms inside the estate were used during filming, notably the library and the banquet hall.
How much did Hallmark pay Biltmore to film there? ›
The Biltmore Estate, the 8,000-acre attraction anchored by the 250-room Biltmore House, is Asheville's top tourist attraction, drawing more than a million visitors annually. The French chateau-style estate, built by George Vanderbilt and opened in 1895, did not pay for the Hallmark movie to be made there.
Did they close the Biltmore to film A Biltmore Christmas? ›
Biltmore remained open during the January filming by carefully. 12-15 hour days for actors and extras. The film was also shot at other undisclosed locations in Western NC, one of which was the train depot in Hendersonville.
How to watch the Biltmore Christmas movie? ›
Currently you are able to watch "A Biltmore Christmas" streaming on fuboTV.
How much does it cost to stay at the Biltmore for one night? ›
Essential information about The Inn On Biltmore Estate
| Low season | January |
|---|
| High season | October |
| Average price (weeknight) | $567 |
| Average price (weekend night) | $745 |
Biltmore Appraised Value
The appraised value of the 135,000-square-foot Biltmore House is about $37 million, according to Buncombe County tax appraisers in 2017. The value of the part of the estate that is open to the public with 2,194 acres, the House, hotels, restaurants, and other buildings exceed $300 million.
How much do Hallmark Christmas actors make per movie? ›
How much do Hallmark movie actors make per movie? Depending on their role, time on set, and call list placement, Hallmark actors can earn $5,600–$24,000 per movie. Leading roles played by bigger celebrities can bring in up to $65,000 per film for actors. Most actors will only take home about 70% of that pay, though.
How much does Candace Cameron Bure get paid for Hallmark movies? ›
How much did Candace Cameron Bure make per Hallmark movie? Candace Cameron Bure has not revealed how much Hallmark paid her per movie. However, reports suggest that Hallmark movie stars make anywhere from $50,000 to $200,000 per movie.
What is the highest budget Hallmark movie? ›
REVIEW: MULAN 2020 is The Highest Budget Hallmark Movie.
One of the most popular tourist attractions in the state, Biltmore Estate proves that even the most-visited places have their secrets. The sprawling Vanderbilt mansion conceals hidden doors and secret passageways.
How much does it cost to go to Biltmore during Christmas? ›
Tickets start at $125/adult. Prices vary by date. All tickets include tours of Biltmore House, the gardens, Antler Hill Village with more lights and the Winery for a complimentary wine tasting. Don't miss a trip to the tropics inside the Conservatory and strolling through the gardens with winter plantings.
Was Forrest Gump filmed at the Biltmore? ›
“Forrest Gump” (1994)
Scenes of Tom Hanks' title character running were shot in and around Asheville, including on the Biltmore Estate.
How did they film A Biltmore Christmas? ›
During the movie's 15-day shoot, Hallmark spent 13 days at Biltmore Estate. Nine rooms inside Biltmore House were used for filming: The Library, Tapestry Gallery, Main Hallway, Staircase Hall, Vestibule, Winter Garden, Banquet Hall, the corridor around the Winter Garden, and the corridor behind the Banquet Hall.
What is the new movie at the Biltmore? ›
It follows Lucy as she's hired to write the script for a remake of a holiday movie. She joins a tour of the grounds and when she knocks an hourglass over, she finds herself transported back ...
Is Biltmore Christmas worth the money? ›
Don't shy away from the cost. Let's be honest spending between $99- $119 for a house tour sounds like a huge chunk of change, but rest assured, it is definitely worth the cost. Most guests spend the entire day on the property and during the holidays into the evening. It's definitely a bucket check-off for many people.
Was anything filmed at the Biltmore? ›
“A Biltmore Christmas” (2023)
Not only was the movie filmed at Biltmore Estate, it is also set there. Screenwriter Lucy Collins, played by Bethany Joy Lenz, is working on a remake of a fictional movie filmed at the estate when she knocks over an hourglass and is transported back in time to the original set in 1946.
Are the Christmas trees at Biltmore Estate real? ›
The finishing touch on Biltmore's holiday décor happens just before the official festivities begin: A locally grown, 35-foot Fraser Fir Christmas tree is put into place and decorated in the 7-story grand Banquet Hall.
How much did George Vanderbilt spend on the Biltmore estate? ›
George Vanderbilt opened his opulent estate, on Christmas Eve of 1895, to family and friends from across the country who were encouraged to enjoy leisure and country pursuits. The Gilded Age mansion reportedly cost $5 million (equivalent to about $183 million today) to construct.
What lifetime movie was filmed at the Biltmore? ›
Storyline. Lucy Hargrove (Bethany Joy Lenz) is a screenwriter who lands the job of a lifetime when she's hired to pen the script for a remake of the beloved holiday movie, "His Merry Wife!". First filmed in 1947 at beautiful, historic Biltmore House, it has long been considered a Christmas classic.
