7. The Ultimate McMansion: Biltmore Estate
New York City was undoubtedly the center of Gilded Age opulence, extravagance, and utter wastefulness, and many summer homes of the super wealthy were in places like Newport, Rhode Island. However, some preferred warmer climes, particularly for the cold winter months. One such individual was George Washington Vanderbilt II who, between 1889 and 1896, built the ultimate McMansion just outside of Asheville, North Carolina: the Biltmore Estate. He was born in Staten Island, New York, but when he visited North Carolina, his imagination was sparked, and he decided that he would build his country retreat there.
The main house of the Biltmore Estate is a whopping 200,000 square feet, making it 100 times larger than many suburban homes today. The entire property consisted of eleven square miles. The building project was so massive that a whole village was constructed for the workers, and a three-mile railroad spur was installed so that the building materials could be transported to the construction site. The site was so unsustainably expensive that the owner had to sell part of the grounds to the United States government.
Today, the Biltmore Estate is the most substantial privately-owned residence in the United States and is a huge tourist attraction to visitors of North Carolina. It is still owned by the descendants of George Washington Vanderbilt, who allow people to visit for a fee to help pay with the considerable upkeep costs.