Hearst Castle, located in San Simeon, California, is a world-famous historic estate that was once the private residence of newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst. It sits atop a hill with stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and is renowned for its opulent architecture, vast art collection, and elaborate gardens.
This year we decided to change things up and hit the road for Thanksgiving!
My in-laws were joining extended family for a Thanksgiving camp out at Pismo Beach and because we love the California coast, we tagged along. The thing is, we’re not exactly people who sit around all day, so we planned activities like driving dune buggies on the Oceano San Dunes, exploring downtown San Louis Obispo, hiking the Cal Poly Architecture Graveyard, and visiting Hearst Castle.
We had never been to Hearst Castle before but we love nature, gardens, art, architecture, and history — all things you learn about on tours and when wandering the grounds. We also had the unexpected pleasure of getting up close and personal with the Hearst Castle zebras that were hanging out right next to the fence alongside the road!
About Hearst Castle
Originally known as Camp Hill, the property’s wilderness offered a place to rough it on camping trips. Despite elaborate arrangements, Hearst envisioned more comfortable accommodations for his family and friends. In 1919, intending to create a family home for himself, his wife, and their five sons, he said to famed San Francisco architect Julia Morgan, “Miss Morgan, we are tired of camping out in the open at the ranch in San Simeon and I would like to build a little something.” By 1925, however, their marriage was pretty much over and San Simeon became a personal retreat for Hearst and his mistress, actress Marion Davies.
Their guest list included Hollywood stars, influential figures, and politicians like Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, the Marx Brothers, Greta Garbo, Buster Keaton, Mary Pickford, Jean Harlow, Clark Gable, Calvin Coolidge, and Winston Churchill.
Visitors gathered each evening at Casa Grande for drinks in the assembly room, dined in the refectory and watched the latest movie in the theater before retiring to the luxurious accommodation provided by the guest houses of Casa del Mar, Casa del Monte and Casa del Sol.
While Hearst entertained, Morgan built. Construction of Hearst Castle, named La Cuesta Encantada (The Enchanted Hill), began in 1919 and spanned more than 28 years. Inspired by European architecture, the castle features a mix of Spanish Revival, Italian Renaissance, and Mediterranean Revival styles and provides visitors a glimpse into the glamorous era of the early 20th century.
After Hearst’s death in 1951, the property was donated to the state of California by the Hearst Corporation. It opened to the public in 1958 as a museum and part of the Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument and is managed by California State Parks. Hearst Castle is also a designated National Historic Landmark and a California Historical Landmark.
Hearst Castle Tour Information
Knowing tickets can be hard to get, we arrived at the Visitor Center early in the day to buy our tickets. While we waited to board the bus for our Grand Rooms Tour, we explored the museum and gift shops and watched the movie in the Theater. Our tour was kid friendly and moved quickly through rooms packed with ornate gold detailing, gorgeous antiques, Greek vases, Roman mosaics, Renaissance tapestries and textiles, and European paintings.
Ceilings, door cases, fireplaces and mantels, complete monasteries, paneling, and even a medieval tithe barn were purchased in Western Europe and Spain, shipped to Hearst’s Brooklyn warehouses, and transported on to California to be integrated into the luxurious complex.
There was not a lot of time to dawdle, and while we could snap photos, it did feel a bit rushed as we moved from room to room. When our tour of the rooms was finished, however, we were able to wander the outdoor grounds and meticulously cared for gardens on our own — and I loved that.
Designed to complement the castle’s architecture, the gardens include manicured lawns, flowerbeds, fountains, and winding paths and trails. It was quiet and peaceful, the panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and the surrounding countryside were breathtaking, and the gardens were lush and colorful.
Hearst Castle Pools
Two of the most photographed and shared architectural details at Hearst Castle are the pools — both of which are included in each of the different tours offered.
The gigantic outdoor Neptune Pool is famous for its classical Roman design, colonnades, statues, and a beautiful view of the rolling San Simeon hills and Pacific Ocean. The indoor Roman Pool, inspired by ancient Roman baths, is lined with mosaics in Venetian glass and gold leaf. It includes statues of Roman gods and a series of arched windows that create a serene and luxurious atmosphere.
Hearst Castle Tour Options
- Grand Rooms Tour: Experience what it was like to be a guest at Hearst Castle. Tour the main building, Casa Grande, and the Assembly Room, Refectory, Morning Room, Billiard Room and Theater. (70 minutes, 140 stairs, 2/3-mile walk.)
- Upstairs Suites Tour: Explore the upper floors of Casa Grande. Climb 322 steps up the spiral stairs to admire William Randolph Hearst’s Gothic Suite, the enchanting Celestial Suite in the bell tower, the main library with 150 ancient Greek vases, the della Robbia Room, and a clever Duplex Suite. (70 minutes, 367 stairs, 3/4-mile route.)
- Cottages And Kitchen Tour: Step inside two of the luxurious mansions that housed the Hearst family and their guests before Casa Grande was ready and see the sprawling kitchen that served dozens of guests and famous wine cellar of Casa Grande. (70 minutes, 193 stairs, 3/4-mile route.)
- Julia Morgan Tour: Get to know Northern California’s Julia Morgan, the first certified female architect in California, the first American woman to head her own architectural office, and the woman behind William Randolph Hearst’s legendary San Simeon estate. (Two hours, 750+ stairs.)
Other Hearst Castle Activities
Hearst once had a private zoo that housed exotic animals like lions, tigers, bears, and zebras. While most of the animals were relocated after Hearst’s death, a herd of zebras descended from Hearst’s original collection still roam the property. If you’re lucky, you’ll see them grazing alongside cattle on the hills or right alongside the road.
Other activities to do during your visit include:
- Hearst Castle Theater: Watch the movie “Hearst Castle – Building the Dream” on a five-story screen. Tickets are included with the purchase of daytime tour tickets, or they can be purchased separately.
- William Randolph Hearst Exhibition: Learn about the Castle, its architect Julia Morgan, and its owner W.R. Hearst through family histories, vintage photographs, historical documents, and works of art. This exhibition is free to the public as a service of Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument.
Know Before You Go
- Hearst Castle is located in the unincorporated town of San Simeon along one of the most pristine stretches of California Highway 1 and the Pacific Ocean. It is located at 750 Hearst Castle Rd, San Simeon, CA 93452, approximately 4-6 hours from both San Francisco and Los Angeles depending upon traffic.
- Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument is one of the few California State Parks that does not accept the Annual Day Use Pass.
- Large parking lots are located down the hill from the sprawling, ornate estate at the Visitor Center, and parking is free. When your scheduled tour time arrives, you’ll board a bus and enjoy a scenic 5-mile, 15-minute ride up to Hearst Castle with an audio presentation.
- You can visit the Hearst Castle Visitor Center, the gift shops, and the William Randolph Hearst Exhibition for free. Gift shops sell a variety of Hearst Castle souvenirs and gifts, videos, books, and tapes, authenticated reproductions of Hearst Castle architectural details, art pieces, and historic furnishings. You can also purchase grass-fed Hearst Ranch Beef!
- The Hearst Castle Visitor Center is the only location at Hearst Castle where food and drinks can be purchased. The cafe serves organic locally raised Hearst Beef, offers self-service soups and chili and a variety of sandwiches and salads, as well as grilled cheeseburgers chicken sandwiches, and chicken strips and fries.
- Visit during Christmas season! From the end of November through the end of December, Hearst Castle gets decorated for the holidays just as guests enjoyed it during the 1920s and 1930s.
- Assistive listening devices, wheelchairs, a list of touchable artifacts, and Braille transcripts are available upon request. Accessibility information and details about Accessible tours can be found on the Hearst Castle State Park web page.
- Hearst Castle was designated a California Historical Landmark on April 28, 1958, was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 22, 1972, and became a United States National Historic Landmark on May 11, 1976.
- While visiting Hearst Castle, don’t forget to check out the 70 foot Piedras Blancas Light Station and the elephant seals! Just a few miles north is the Piedras Blancas Rookery — home to the 17,000 elephant seals that migrate to California’s Central Coast.
