The historic Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina was decimated by Hurricane Helene and is now closed.

The largest private home in the United States was built in the Gilded Age by George Vanderbilt, grandson of shipping and industrialist Cornelius “the Commodore” Vanderbilt, and is now a popular tourist attraction and family business.

The fourth and fifth generations of Vanderbilt descendants manage day-to-day operations along with more than 2,000 employees. The 8,000-acre property is home to shops, restaurants and accommodation, as well as hosting events.

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The Biltmore Estate, the largest private home in America, built between 1889 and 1895 by George Vanderbilt, is one of the region's premier tourist attractions, as seen on October 20, 2016 in Asheville, NC (George Rose/Getty Images / Getty Images)

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Biltmore Estate & Asheville North Carolina

Before and after Hurricane Helene

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By Friday, the storm had already claimed 230 lives, and many residents were still missing. In a message to employees, Biltmore said: “We understand that connectivity is very limited and want you to know that your safety and well-being are our primary concern. Please continue to check closure information here until we can repair our internal communications channels.

“We appreciate your patience as we navigate this crisis together and we are committed to providing updates as they become available.”

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