Biltmore Forest School

The Biltmore Forest School was a forestry school on George W. Vanderbilt's estate that gave students direct access to large forest areas for hands-on training. The site is now part of the Cradle of Forestry in America heritage area with trails and exhibits.

Carl A. Schenck founded the school in 1896 as North America's first forestry school on Vanderbilt's estate near Asheville. It was significant because it introduced a new training model for forest management that soon spread nationwide.

The school was a place where students received instruction directly in the forest and applied techniques they later spread across the country. This model of learning through hands-on forest work shaped expectations for forestry education for generations.

Visitors can walk marked trails through the grounds and explore old school buildings and forest exhibits. Wear comfortable shoes since the paths go through natural terrain.

The school was one of the few places in America where European forestry techniques were taught directly by a German expert before spreading elsewhere. This knowledge-transfer model made it a formative place for professional forestry education across the country.

Location: Transylvania County

Inception: 1896

Founders: Carl A. Schenck

Official opening: September 1, 1898

Part of: Cradle of Forestry in America

GPS coordinates: 35.35124,-82.77921

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:01