We drove over to Asheville NC after the Smokey Mountain hikes, and drove some of the Blue Ridge Parkway. That is all very scenic areas. The next morning, Joyce and I visited the Biltmore House, built by George Vanderbilt (started in 1890, and completed in 1895. During the self guided tour of the house, lightning struck the building (lightning rods worked) and then a hailstorm and high winds hit the area. Several trees were knocked down, and most of the flowers/plants were damaged.
Here's how our car looked after we pulled all of the branches and brush off.
They don't let you take interior pictures at the house, so we settled for pictures of the gardens. This photo shows some of the damage.
Here's something to show you the size of the house. We're at the edge of the esplanade and it's about two football fields from here to the house.
Here's a dazed looking turkey wandering around after the violent storm.
