Hearst CastleGuest , behold, if you will, William’sCastle on the hill! Built of mountain,bay and sky, sir prince of print shalloccupy. No battles here, no soldiersslain. No captured palace to regain.Those Hollywood ladies and moviestar gents arrived for parties notpunishments. They came to dance, todine, to laugh, with grazing zebra, tallgiraffe. Picture them there warmevenings in June, kissed by a Californiamoon, in the kingdom carved withAmerican joy at the castle of William,a rich newspaper boy. The story of Hearst Castle.Hearst Castle’s history begins in 1865,when George Hearst purchased 40,000acres of ranchland. After his mother’sdeath in 1919, William RandolphHearst inherited thousands of acresaround San Simeon, and over time, hepurchased more. The spread eventuallyencompassed about 250,000 acres. Witharchitect Julia Morgan, Hearstconceived a retreat he called La CuestaEncantada—Spanish for “EnchantedHill.” By 1947, when Hearst had toleave the remote location because of hisfragile health, the estate was stillunfinished even though it comprised165 rooms and 123 acres of gardens,terraces, pools and walkways—all builtto Hearst’s specifications andshowcasing a legendary art collection. Originally known as “Camp Hill,” itswilderness offered a magnificent campsitefor family and friends, but Hearstenvisioned more comfortableaccommodations. His simple instructionsto famed San Francisco architect JuliaMorgan in 1919 were:“Miss Morgan, we are tired of campingout in the open at the ranch in San Simeonand I would like to build a littlesomething.”Hearst renamed the hilltop that crownedhis huge ranch “La Cuesta Encantada” –The Enchanted Hill. By 1947, Hearst andMorgan had created an estate of 165rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces,pools and walkways – an American castlethat was destined to become one of theworld’s greatest showplaces for his art HISTORIC AREAS AND LOCATIONS AT THE CASTLEHEARST CASTLE POOLSTwo pools can be found at Hearst Castle: the Neptune Pooland the Roman Pool. Each one is truly unique. They were thesettings for lively parties, social gatherings, exercise, andrecreation.WINE CELLARFilled with the finest wine money could buy, the Wine Cellarwas constructed during the Prohibition Era, and featuredvaults to protect Hearst’s collection.HEARST AIRPORTThe original airstrip—located directly behind the HearstCastle Visitor Center—was built in the 1920s. It provided aneasier, much faster way for W. R. Hearst’s architect andfamous guests to reach his estate at San Simeon than trainsand automobiles.Learn more »THE ZOOHearst Castle was once the site of the world’s largest privatezoo. Although no longer in operation, the “bear pits” can beseen on the way down the hilltop when visitors depart.Descendants of Hearst’s zebras, aoudads, and Sambar deercan still be seen on Hearst ranchland.Learn more »THE GARDENS OF HEARST CASTLEDiscover the lush, serene gardens that were planned anddeveloped as carefully as other parts of the Castle were byHearst and Morgan. GUEST HOUSESThere are a total of 46 rooms in the Guest Houses including lobbies.CASA GRANDEThere are several additional rooms in Casa Grande including theRefectory, the Billiard Room, the Theater, Library, Gothic Study,Beauty Salon, Butler’s Pantry, Kitchen, Staff Dining Room for a totalof 115 rooms in Casa Grande.Holds 345,000 gallons of waterDepth from 3.5 feet to 10 feet deep; 6 feet in alcoveINDOOR ROMAN POOLHolds 205,000 gallons of waterDepth is 10 feet deep; 4 feet in alcove
