Just a Little Bungalow in California

One of the guest houses at Hearst Castle

Amazingly enough, for being a rather young country, America does have a few castles, and one happens to be located on the central coast of California.

I'm speaking of Hearst Castle built by wealthy newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst.  Hearst Castle was never truly finished in Hearst's lifetime.  It was designed by architect Julia Morgan between 1919 and 1947 for Hearst, who kept changing his mind.  The Neptune pool, for example, was rebuilt three times for the man.  Hearst had a habit of buying centuries-old ceilings, too, so many of the rooms were sized (and re-sized) to accommodate them.

California poppies in bloom

Hearst Castle was at its heyday in the 1920s and '30s.  It was during this time that the Hollywood elite and famous political figures visited, usually flying into the estate's personal airfield or taking a private Hearst-owned railroad car up the coast from Los Angeles.

Detail of the indoor pool's golden mosaic inlays

It's been a few years since I visited the Castle, but I have fond memories of it.  Taking one or more of the tours is really fun.  My friend Paula took these photos on a recent trip up California's Central Coast.

I love this indoor pool, the blue color is gorgeous, but I find it's rather spooky, too!

Hearst was a collector of art, antiques and artifacts from all over Europe.  Visiting the Castle is quite an experience.

Among the A-list celebrities who have stayed here are Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Joan Crawford, James Stewart, Bob Hope, Charles Lindbergh, Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.  And that's just naming a few.

The outdoor "Neptune" pool

Hearst Castle was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, and became a United States National Historic Landmark in 1976.

I love the canon.  I'm sure it kept pesky neighbors in line.

Paula picked a lovely time of year to visit the Castle, as the hills are green and the grounds bursting with blooming plants of all kinds in the Spring.

The Castle was built on the site of an old Spanish ranch named Rancho Piedra Blanca, that William Randolph Hearst's father originally purchased in 1865.

The estate, formally named The Enchanted Hill (La Cuesta Encantada) has a tremendous amount of art and antiques within it.  It is well worth a visit.  The Castle and its guest houses are open for public tours and receive more than a million visitors per year.  The site has been a California State Historic Park since 1957,

If you get a chance to visit, you won't regret it.  It is indeed one of a kind.

The Castle has a commanding view of the California coast, and the small town of San Simeon below it.

Thank you, Paula, for sharing a bit of your visit there with us!