Hearst Castle

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As a child, in the mid-1800s, William Randolph Hearst would come to this San Simeon family-owned ranch to camp under the stars.



As a successful businessman, Hearst began building his Mediterranean Revival mansion at this location and filled it with treasures from around the world. The project continued from 1919 to 1947 when his doctors said that he could no longer live in such a remote location.



The plan was for a group of buildings that would revolve around a towering main structure in a manner reminiscent of a Spanish hill town.



You can see the estate miles away perched on top of the mountain. As you twist and turn up the 5 mile driveway, you pass pastures upon which exotic animals - zebras, giraffes, emu, etc…- once grazed.



Casa Grande (the main house) was built of reinforced concrete, a totally new architectural concept at that time. Even today, Casa Grande exceeds current earthquake codes. The estate contains 115 rooms, including 38 bedrooms, a library, movie theater, kitchen, and living quarters for household staff. There are also three separate cottages that contain numerous bedrooms, bathrooms, and sitting rooms…but none contain dining areas because guests are required to have dinner and socialize in the main house in the evening.



The estate contains 127 acres of terraces, gardens, walkways, tennis courts, and pools. Winding paths through the gardens terminate at vista points which provided guests with a view of the ocean and a quite spot for contemplation.



After all these years, Hearst Castle was never finished. It was always an ongoing project/hobby as Hearst’s vision changed.

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Photos

Hearst Castle
Entrance to the estate. This was Hearst's weekend ranch retreat. He called his San Simeon residence La Casa Encantada.

Casa Grande
The estate's magnificent main house "Casa Grande", and 3 guest houses are of Mediterranean Revival style and are perched atop a rocky knoll of the San Lucia Mountains.

Casa Granda
Has 115 rooms, 4 floors, 38 bedrooms, 42 baths, 14 sitting rooms, 2 libraries, billiard room, movie theater, guest and staff dining rooms, kitchen, pantry, and wine cellar

Gardens
Spectacular formal gardens beautify the grounds

Hilltop Vistas
Winding paths take you to vista points overlooking the ocean as well as the mountains

Sculpture a la Mary
The gardens were specifically designed to incorporate various pieces of Heart's sculpture collection. Maybe we should add Mary to it as a permanent exhibit.

Gathering Room
Before dinner, guests would gather here

Dinning Room
Guests at Hearst Castle dined in the Refectory, a vast dining hall lined with tapestries. He would sit in the center. New guests would sit to his right or left. The longer a guest stayed, the further his seat would be until it reached the end of the table.

Table Service
Here at the "ranch", Hearst preferred to dine in the rough...paper napkins, mustard & ketchup in their bottles.

Hearst Bedroom
Antique bed, dressers, and ornamental ceilings with a beautiful view from each window.

Marion Davies Bedroom
Madonna and child artwork on every wall

Billiard Room
One of the most notable tapestries is the mille fleurs (thousands of flowers). Notice the 15th century spanish ceiling of painted pine exposed beams.

Neptune pool
Featured in Lady Gaga's music video. This pool was rebuilt 3 times before Hearst was satisfied.

Roman Pool
Every surface is covered with gold fused mosaic tiles

Pantry
Plates were placed on this warming table awaiting to be served to guests

Kitchen
All the latest equipment

Wine Cellar
Total capacity is 10,000 bottles!! Nancy tried to get locked in...but the alarm sounded.