Food and Beverage Maintenance Staff 2

Biltmore Estate earns the 2026 Certified Angus Beef Sustainability Award. A legacy commitment to intentional land and livestock management, put to the test with Hurricane Helene. PUBLISHED ON October 13, 2026 (L to R) John Stika, CAB; Kyle Mayberry, David Jones, Mark Demarco, Geoff Gardner, Bruce Cobb, CAB (Photo provided) ASHEVILLE, N.C. - Thirty-one inches of rain in 48 hours tested more than the roads, pastures and forests at Biltmore Estate. It tested a 130-year-old commitment to keep the nation's largest home operating as a private, profitable, working agricultural estate. That commitment - to land, livestock and community - helped earn Biltmore Estate the 2026 Certified Angus Beef (CAB) Sustainability Award. When George Vanderbilt began building Biltmore in 1895, he envisioned more than a grand estate in the Blue Ridge Mountains. He wanted a self-sustaining operation rooted in agriculture, forestry and stewardship. Five generations later, that vision still guides the 8,000-acre property in Asheville, North Carolina, where about 700 head of Angus cattle graze the estate. Today, forestry and agriculture remain central to Biltmore's identity and business model. Its closed-loop system supplies Biltmore-raised beef, lamb and pork to several on-site restaurants while connecting land management, food production and guest experience. "My central role and belief is in preserving this part of our property as an agricultural enterprise," says Kyle Mayberry, Biltmore director of agriculture. "We do that through profitability. We do that through new technology. We do that through adaptation and innovation to what the market demands and what our guests demand."That purpose was tested in September 2024, when Hurricane Helene brought wind, flooding and historic rainfall to Biltmore and the Asheville area. Wind ripped through wooded mountainsides, landslides damaged fields and pastures, and the French Broad River flooded parts of the estate.Biltmore closed its doors for only the third time in its history, and the owning family committed $2 million to a community relief fund. In November 2024, the estate's rescheduled production sale included a fundraising lot that returned nearly $40,000 to area agricultural recovery efforts."Recovery after Helene is not a one- or two-year process," Mayberry says. "For many in this area, it will be a lifetime process. People lost homes and businesses, some even lost family members. Lives changed." That broad view of responsibility - to the land, livestock and surrounding community - is woven into Biltmore's agriculture program. Soil and water are tested regularly for nutrient composition. Pastures are rotated, sometimes with multiple livestock species. Thousands of forested acres are managed, and the team plants hundreds of trees each year. A few years ago, Biltmore dedicated space and staff to composting everything from livestock manure to restaurant food waste. The aerated stack compost facility supports on-property gardens, landscaping, crop fields and pasture nutrient needs. Bees produce honey for guests while serving as pollinators across the property. Wildlife, forests, crops and livestock are all part of the same system. The Angus cow has a job in that system, too. "Our cows undergo tremendous selection pressure. Not only do they have to perform on grass and wean a calf, they've got to wean a calf that's high Choice or better when it goes to the rail," Mayberry says. Eric Ellis, Biltmore livestock manager, explains the team balances carcass quality with maternal function. "We are trying to produce a Prime steak and keep functional, maternal lines here. It's marbling and calving ease, heifer pregnancy, scrotal circumference and ribeye area." Since Mayberry joined the Biltmore team seven years ago, the livestock program has leaned into high-quality Angus genetics to create a more consistent cooking and eating experience for chefs and guests. Through Biltmore Grown(R), guests can now take home or ship the estate's steaks and ground beef. Designed after COVID-19 disrupted traditional markets, Biltmore Grown(R) created another outlet for carcasses and cuts guests had come to appreciate at Biltmore. As of 2026, Biltmore is also a Certified Angus Beef Ranch to Table(R) partner, adding another layer of confidence for customers ordering beef to their doorstep. "When we think about growing the Biltmore Grown(R) brand, not only does it drive profitability for this business unit, but for our seedstock customers too," Mayberry says. The long-term goal is to include a buy-back program for calves sired by Biltmore bulls, creating market access for small farms in the region. After Helene, the estate planted 1,000 white oak trees, with plans for 5,000 more, to help restore the land after the hurricane. Mayberry says those investments reflect Biltmore's ability to think beyond short-term returns. "We are so fortunate to work for a place that lets us look in hundred-year windows, not just short-term viewpoints," he says. - Certified Angus Beef

4Wall Entertainment and partners transform Biltmore Estate with Luminere. Jasmine Phat one week ago The historic Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina is marking its 130th anniversary through Luminere - an immersive nighttime experience that honors the estate's spirit across the house's façade, gardens, Conservatory, and treescape. Created through a collaboration between Biltmore, 4Wall Entertainment, media production company Thrasos Media, experiential design studio Klip Collective, and additional vendors, Luminere made its debut in March 2026. Thrasos Media, who spearheaded the technical direction of the experience under the project direction of Klip Collective, tasked 4Wall to engineer the system that would bring Luminere to life. Having previously partnered with 4Wall on other ventures, Klip Collective turned to their team for their ability to deliver at scale and source specialized equipment, with Klip Collective Creative Director Ricardo Rivera leading the project's overall experiential design and artistic narrative. Through projection mapping, lighting, and music, the installation reimagines Biltmore House into an experimental landscape laden with homages to the original Vanderbilt family, whose appreciation for the arts spans decades. Guests can experience the estate's iridescent celebration starting on select evenings through Oct. 18, 2026. "Rather than simply illuminating the property, the goal was to create an emotional journey that blended history, imagination, atmosphere, and technology, allowing guests to experience the estate as both a historic landmark and a contemporary artistic medium," said Thrasos Media Project Technical Lead, Cameron Yeary. "The experience draws heavily from the Vanderbilt family's appreciation for art, design, and hospitality, while using modern immersive technologies to reinterpret the estate in a way that feels both cinematic and deeply personal." A CREATIVE MISSION FOR 4WALL 4Wall led the charge in supplying and installing all projection, media servers, lighting, audio, head end control, and networking equipment, while also devising Luminere's technical systems. Beyond illuminating the gardens and Conservatory, they delivered the framework that would power the projection mapping across the house's façade. "The concept was to integrate lighting that enhances the Biltmore's landscape and architecture's inherent beauty," 4Wall Project Manager Christopher Raab explained. "The lighting is synchronized with an audiovisual program that tells the story of the estate and brings a stunning modern visual to this classic piece of history." 4Wall's project management team worked closely with creative engineering group TAIT and other vendors to coordinate the installation, while their technical division configured and implemented all equipment. "One of the most valuable aspects of the 4Wall workflow was the ability to remotely monitor and troubleshoot systems before teams even arrived onsite," Yeary said. "Their infrastructure allowed teams to remotely access equipment, monitor projector status and temperatures, verify systems online, and diagnose issues across the networked environment. That level of visibility and support helped streamline programming and reduced downtime during critical phases of installation." Alongside the physical build, 4Wall's crew took a major role in coordinating technical documentation, AV drawings, and system organization across vendors. "Their AV drawings and technical documentation became foundational tools that helped coordinate communication across multiple vendors and teams," he added. "That was instrumental in keeping such a large and technically demanding project aligned." TECHNOLOGY MEETS ARTISTRY Klip Collective Managing Partner Michelle Barbieri, who served as Executive Producer on the project, selected 4Wall to deliver projection gear that matched Luminere's technical specs and creative intent. "The scale of the project was definitely unique to Klip, and we were thrilled to bring our creative expertise to such a unique and grand historic property," Barbieri said. "As we worked on the projection design and projector placement, we realized we were going to need the best and brightest projectors to handle the 800+ foot projection throw." Luminere's projection mapping across the house's façade, a monumental feature of the experience, necessitated an intense level of precision for its execution. "Projecting imagery nearly 900 feet onto the house while maintaining clarity, brightness, and definition required a tremendous amount of engineering and technical refinement," said Yeary. "One concern early on was preserving image sharpness and detail across such a long projection distance, so additional projector solutions and specialized lensing strategies were developed to enhance detail and maintain image quality." Projection and lensing choices were driven by each environment, shifting from the intimate atmospheric moments within the gardens to the cinematic imagery across the Conservatory and Biltmore House façade. DISTINCTLY DESIGNED SYSTEMS Because Luminere spans multiple areas, 4Wall deployed systems capable of delivering consistent brightness, color accuracy, and high-performance under various conditions. Installation by their crew unfolded over eight months. "We also needed systems that could integrate into a highly customized infrastructure network across the estate," Yeary explained. "The technical environment included projection, lighting, sound, networking, fiber distribution, environmental systems, and remote monitoring capabilities all working together simultaneously." Every system was uniquely tailored, with different technical approaches designed to serve the distinct needs of each area. "For example, some garden experiences focused on subtle texture and atmosphere, while larger architectural moments demanded brightness, precision, and scale," Yeary said. "The flexibility of the systems allowed the creative team to fully realize the emotional and artistic goals of each environment." UNWEATHERED BY STORMS AND TIME Teams maintained progress through storms, moisture challenges, power disruptions, and Hurricane Helene while carefully balancing innovative technology implementation with preservation of the estate's historic nature. Excavation revealed partially documented terra cotta piping systems, adding new insight into the property's original substructures. "We were running power, data, and fiber infrastructure throughout gardens and landscapes that were never originally designed for this type of experience," Yeary explained. "Every environment brought different challenges - from open-air garden spaces to delicate historic structures like the Conservatory." 4Wall's consistent support throughout the complex timeline across technical expertise, cutting-edge equipment, and conservation efforts played an essential role in sustaining the project's momentum. "There were several moments where equipment troubleshooting required direct coordination with manufacturers, replacement components, specialized lens solutions, and rapid problem-solving," Yeary stated. "4Wall was extremely proactive in leveraging their industry relationships and technical resources to help keep the project moving forward." A VISION CRAFTED THROUGH COLLABORATION For Yeary, 4Wall and Thrasos' partnership, defined by both technological ambition and artistic alignment with Klip's creative vision, proved instrumental to Luminere's success. "Their team was incredibly professional, knowledgeable, responsive, and solutions-oriented throughout the process," he said. "From technical planning through installation and troubleshooting, they remained committed to helping realize the creative vision while navigating the realities of a highly complex production environment." The project's success reflects years of dedication, creative precision, and a foundation of trust between all partners. "Luminere represents an incredible example of what can happen when creative vision, historical storytelling, engineering, and advanced technology come together with the right group of collaborators," Yeary concluded. "Projects like this only succeed because of the dedication and expertise of many teams working together toward a shared vision. It was a privilege to help bring such a unique experience to life, especially in a location as iconic and meaningful as Biltmore Estate." About 4Wall Entertainment 4Wall is a full-service lighting, video, audio, and rigging company providing rentals, sales, and production services across the entertainment industry. With locations across the U.S. and U.K., 4Wall pairs a vast, meticulously maintained inventory with the technical expertise to support projects of any scale. For more information, visit www.4wall.com.