Located just a short drive north on highway 1 from San Luis Obispo near the town of San Simeon is Hearst Castle. This palatial dwelling, built by newspaper baron William Randolf Hearst between 1919 and 1947, overlooks the Pacific Ocean and contains 56 bedrooms, 61 bathrooms, 19 sitting rooms, 127 acres of gardens, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, a movie theater, an airfield, and the world’s largest private zoo.
Hearst Castle entrance
The famous Neptune Pool features the front of an ancient Roman Temple that was transported from Europe and reconstructed at the castle.
Neptune Pool
Hearst released a number of exotic animals onto the castle grounds, and many animals, including zebras, can still be seen there. One night while we were driving past the castle on Highway 1, a strange animal, which Neil identified as an Aoudad, ran in front of our car.
Zebras near Hearst Castle
In 1957, the Hearst Corporation donated the castle to the state of California, and it is now a State Historical Monument and a National Historic Landmark. Daily tours are offered of the castle and grounds, including a night tour that allows visitors to see the castle as a guest in the 1930s might have.
