Why California's Most Opulent Mansion Was Saved From Demolition: Hearst Castle

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  • Опубліковано 5 лип 2024
  • Hearst Castle-a mansion so lavish, that it has famously been referred to as “the type of place God that would have built - if he had the money”.
    There was a time, however, when the future of this extravagant mansion stood dangerously close to being dismantled.
    Indeed, Hearst Castle found itself at a historical crossroads - one that could very well have led to its vanishing from both physical reality - and collective memory.
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    Why Hollywood's Most Opulent Mansion Was Demolished: Pickfair: • Why Hollywood's Most O...
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    TIMESTAMPS:
    0:00 Intro
    1:11 Chapter 1: The Creation of a Masterpiece
    4:27 Chapter 2: The Hearst Castle Falls into Disrepair
    7:05 Chapter 3: A Renewed Focus on Restoration
    10:06 Chapter 4: Hearst Castle Controversies and Challenges
    13:01 Chapter 5: The Legacy and Future of Hearst Castle
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    Immerse yourself in the tale of California's grand Hearst Castle and its journey from splendor to near loss, and finally to its revival and the controversies that ensue. In this video, we narrate the captivating history of this architectural jewel, designed by the remarkable Julia Morgan and commissioned by the magnate William Randolph Hearst.
    Discover how Hearst Castle, also known as La Cuesta Encantada, began as a simple idea in 1919 and flourished into a 127-acre marvel by the late 1940s, housing 115 rooms filled with artistic and historical treasures. Each corner of the Castle, especially Hearst's Gothic Suite, reflects the confluence of diverse architectural styles and a personal touch of luxury.
    We take you through the Castle’s golden era in the 1930s, when it became a cultural nucleus, hosting figures like Winston Churchill and Clark Gable, to the days of World War II when it fell silent. After Hearst’s death in 1951, we examine the challenges faced by the Hearst Corporation and the eventual downturn of this once vibrant estate, leading to its handover to the California State Parks in 1957.
    We’ll delve into the period of neglect the Castle faced and the crucial turning point in the 1960s when public interest sparked its first steps towards restoration. As we transition into the third chapter of our story in 1985, learn about the efforts of the Foundation at Hearst Castle and the Hearst Castle Preservation Foundation to secure the future of this Californian monument. We detail the meticulous restorative work undertaken, including the impressive overhaul of the iconic Neptune Pool and the conservation of the Castle's vast art collection.
    Our narrative also explores the controversies that have surrounded Hearst Castle since the early 2000s. From legal battles over Hearst's amassed art collections to the environmental implications of restoration, the castle has not been without its disputes. We examine the different perspectives on the restoration process and the debate over the use of state funds for the upkeep of this luxurious estate.
    As of 2023, \ the dialogue continues on the Castle's value to the community, balancing its educational significance against critiques of its representation of affluence. Yet, through the dedication of its supporters and the community, Hearst Castle stands as a testament to history, art, and architecture, inviting us to reflect on the legacy we choose to preserve.

КОМЕНТАРІ • 357

  • @oldmoneymansions
    @oldmoneymansions  8 місяців тому +53

    COMMENT: Have you visited Hearst Castle in California - or would like to?

    • @swannoir
      @swannoir 8 місяців тому +2

      Yes, I've been 4 times, on all the tours. Love that place. So beautiful. Fun to imagine movie stars cavorting in those stunning pools.

    • @diannemose244
      @diannemose244 8 місяців тому +3

      Yes I'd like to spend days looking at every detail

    • @nfo2527
      @nfo2527 8 місяців тому +1

      I have. Amazing, and from what I understood it was the largest art collection in the US, and the construction was never finished before his passing 🙏🏼🥂

    • @Ddrhl
      @Ddrhl 8 місяців тому +3

      I'd like to swim in the pool.

    • @slicksalmon6948
      @slicksalmon6948 8 місяців тому +2

      Yes. I visited it in 1966. It was presented as grotesque opulence built by a megalomaniacal owner.

  • @amandab.recondwith8006
    @amandab.recondwith8006 8 місяців тому +75

    When I toured Hearst Castle, it was practically empty of tourists because of the weather. I found the misty fog on the mountaintop utterly haunting, lending an air of mystery and giving echoes of the ghosts who occupy the estate. It's a wondrous place - unimaginable for an ordinary person to behold. Everything about it is exquisitely maintained and in great repair. Such a vast undertaking could never be accomplished these days with all the modern glass boxes hanging over the cliffs of Malibu and Santa Barbara. Those fragile examples of contemporary luxury will disappear while Hearst Castle will stand for a thousand years.

    • @margo3367
      @margo3367 8 місяців тому +5

      It’s kind of creepy, but magnificent at the same time. Well worth a visit.

    • @lemorab1
      @lemorab1 8 місяців тому +6

      I went with my parents for the first time in 1961. The official story given by the tour guides was extremely discreet. Marion Davies was not mentioned, as if she was never there. I think I first learned who she was and her role as Hearst's longtime and long suffering mistress and financial savior in the mid-1960's, when I was in high school. When I toured San Simeon in 1996, Davies was part of the tour guide narrative and had been restored to her rightful place in history. In 1996, I also learned that the secret daughter of Hearst and Davies was Patricia Van Cleeve, officially the daughter of Marion's sister, Reine, and presented to the public as Marion's niece. When I was a teenager, my mom told me that for years, rumor had it that actress Simone Simon was W. R. and Marion's daughter. I saw Hearst Castle once in sunlight and once in Fog. I agree that it is a magical place. I love the garden with Egyptian cat goddess statues.

    • @annehersey9895
      @annehersey9895 8 місяців тому +3

      You visited at the perfect time! It is days like that, hopefully with a little drizzle that I also like to visit Disneyland!

    • @gridley
      @gridley 7 місяців тому +2

      Human will & human tenacity are amazing. Even more so in the early 1900s when the hills of San Simeon were more remote & modern equipment didn't exist. Then again, ancient Egyptians did manage to build huge objects known as pyramids. Still, although Downton-type mansions of England or the Vanderbilt House in North Carolina in various ways may be larger or more structurally palatial, Hearst has a combo of Hollywood glamour (eg, Neptune Pool) & a hilly Mediterranean-type terrain (& days of coastal fog) that makes it unique. Probably why George Bernard Shaw described it as, “What God would have built if he had the money." Another relic of the early 1900s (which requires constant TLC), the Queen Mary in Long Beach, has old-timey qualities that made me think of HC.

    • @twistoffate4791
      @twistoffate4791 6 місяців тому +1

      @amandab, Well-stated, articulated and observed. I have not been to HC but would sure love to. I am so glad it's still standing and carefully preserved and can be admired and enjoyed.

  • @mikemintun1587
    @mikemintun1587 8 місяців тому +142

    I have visited Hearst Castle many times over the years. In my opinion, the restoration of this monument was, and is, worth every cent; and every bit of the painstaking efforts. If you have not seen this historic monument, is it certainly well worth the time and effort. The pools themselves are well worth the price of admission. They will simply take your breath away. You will find the docents extremely knowledgeable and full of interesting anecdotes about the legends and people surrounding this magnificent property.

    • @oldmoneymansions
      @oldmoneymansions  8 місяців тому +6

      Thanks for sharing your story Mike! Fascinating

    • @dorothypettijohn1037
      @dorothypettijohn1037 8 місяців тому +7

      Nice description. I too have visited Hearst Castle and was mesmerized. We only took two tours but I would lobe to take more. Just the drive up the mountain is worth the trip!

    • @mikemintun1587
      @mikemintun1587 8 місяців тому +2

      Thank you!@@dorothypettijohn1037

    • @sherryridlen9357
      @sherryridlen9357 8 місяців тому +2

      I would love to see the castle in person but not enough to go to CA

    • @user-jj1cq5vb6d
      @user-jj1cq5vb6d 7 місяців тому

      Sherry, if you could ignore the people (mostly Hollyweird), and the politics, the whole state has much that is worth looking at and visiting. But I do understand the hesitation. I was born in California, but I moved away, and still live in another state. I prefer only to visit unless and until that state gets it's stuff in order! Best regards.@@sherryridlen9357

  • @19andiaz
    @19andiaz 8 місяців тому +31

    I visited the castle as part of a high school trip in 2005. It is the most magnificent place I’ve ever seen and probably will ever see. I’m so glad that there are a groups of people who work so hard to preserve such a monumental place.

  • @anthonymaddox6515
    @anthonymaddox6515 8 місяців тому +44

    I have been to Hearst Castle at least 5 times in my life and have taken two of the current guided tours. I am always amazed at what I see and am glad that unlike many of the great houses in this country, this one has been saved and restored.

  • @lenadams4604
    @lenadams4604 8 місяців тому +31

    Yes, I have been to Hearst Castle. There were four tours you could take back in the early 2000s. We took all four. Two the first time and the last two the second time. A few years later we took the kids to see it. The place is breathtaking. We stayed in a cozy little in Cambria while we were there. I would love to go back and see i now that it has been restored. hopefully we will someday.

  • @scottnielsen1553
    @scottnielsen1553 8 місяців тому +25

    Yes I was there in the mid90's. I remember being at the visitors center below the hill waiting for our tour to start. There was a snack shop, so I bought a croissant and sat at a table. A small bird flew down and stood on the floor inches from my foot. He was staring at me intently. There was a sign on the wall which read Do NOT feed the birds. Since this little one was so cute and so determined, I thought, what would it hurt to just flick a small tear off down towards him. He flew up and caught it in mid -air, then a couple of seconds later all hell broke loose with what seemed like a hundred of his friends ( who must have been up in the rafters watching ) all coming down and making quite the ruskus. So I got busted. (not literally)

    • @oldmoneymansions
      @oldmoneymansions  8 місяців тому +1

      Haha!

    • @joefranks4235
      @joefranks4235 8 місяців тому +2

      LOL, when I was there with my parents (2003) on a tour we had a crow fly down to our table and fly off with a bag of chips. We laughed so hard. At least the birds were eating fine.

  • @josephpiskac2781
    @josephpiskac2781 7 місяців тому +6

    I toured the Hearst Castle around 1987. There was no sense of any disrepair. I am a retired architect and I totally love the Neptune Pool. I think the most beautiful creation on Earth complete with the views of California and the Pacific Ocean.

  • @j1st633
    @j1st633 8 місяців тому +11

    Every day a private plane would bring Hearst every daily paper he published. Because he had control over his celebrity critics. Employer of the paper, actors were beholden to him. If you were invited to the mansion, you did want he wanted. His famous costume balls.

  • @charlesclayton8534
    @charlesclayton8534 8 місяців тому +13

    I have been to La Cuesta Incantata over 20 times, still continuing to go almost every year! It is one of my favorite things to do! I’m very thankful that many people have dedicated their resources to the upkeep of the Castle! It is a very special place. I’m now introducing my grandchildren to this wonderful place and they are loving it!

  • @lindabriggs5118
    @lindabriggs5118 8 місяців тому +9

    As a child of the 50's and 60's, I was probably one of the lucky ones, in that my father loved to visit the "Castle" and we would travel there a number of times. He would take other family members visiting us from the east coast. He was also an avid amateur photographer and would take hundreds of photos each time we visited. I remember I wanted so badly, on hot summer days, to swim in the beautiful Neptune Pool. I remember Hearst used to have his own zoo of sorts but could only see it on the bus ride up. The place was great to see. One thing that struck me as funny was that when Hearst had famous visitors, movie stars and the like, he would serve them on paper plates, and they usually got hot dogs or hambergers. Frugality at its finest! I would encourage the trip to anyone who visits California. It is worth the scenic detour of sea and mountains and the cost of, for some, the price of admission. I would love to be able to see it again, especially since its restoration. Hearst Castle will always be a place of beauty and history for me in my elder years.

  • @SultanaP
    @SultanaP 8 місяців тому +3

    I agree! I visited prior to renovation and the beauty has remained with me for over 20 years!

  • @rednekokie
    @rednekokie 8 місяців тому +7

    I have had the pleasure of visiting that wonderful place on three separate occasions -- the last time being in 1980. After that I moved back to Oklahoma and have not had another chance to visit California and the castle. Each time I was there, I was astounded at the variety of the collection, and the vastness of it. Truly, it is an American wonder, fed by an American dreamer who wished to present European majesty and glamor to Americans. Thanks be to the Hearst family, who donated it to the people of California, as well as to the people of California for maintaining it for all of us to enjoy.

  • @TropicLuv
    @TropicLuv 8 місяців тому +4

    I visited way back in the 80s. I need to go back and see all the beautiful restoration that has been done.

  • @johnpotter8039
    @johnpotter8039 8 місяців тому +5

    A dear friend of mine, the actor and writer, John Considine, Jr., born in 1935, grew up among Hollywood "royalty". His father, John Considine, Sr., was one of the great MGM producers, with films like "Young Tom Edison" and "Boys' Town". The family were good friends with Hearst and Marion Davies; she was the "maid" of honor at their wedding. The Considines were frequent guests at Marion's Santa Monica beach house, the Wyntoon compound and San Simeon. One of John's great, off-the-cuff comments is that he "had learned to swim in the big outdoor pool at the Hearst Ranch". Yes, the rich were different from us- they had more money.

  • @alexandreweber1024
    @alexandreweber1024 8 місяців тому +3

    I plan to visit this castle !!!!! As a french colector !!!!! It is a must !!!!!Thanks mister Hearst !!!!!

  • @margo3367
    @margo3367 8 місяців тому +19

    It’s in a remote part of the California coast, which gives it a further air of mystery. I loved visiting, and just driving by gives you a sense of the bygone era and people of that era. Lovely on so many levels.

    • @user-rv3yr6my4z
      @user-rv3yr6my4z 7 місяців тому +1

      My parents took my sister and I there while on vacation, it is something i will never forget.

  • @1Kent
    @1Kent 8 місяців тому +2

    I am pleased it was preserved despite the negligence & lack of forsight of previous state custodians.

  • @j1st633
    @j1st633 8 місяців тому +6

    A must see. It's so large that there are two tours showing different parts of the mansion.

  • @krismckee
    @krismckee 8 місяців тому +2

    I visited Hearst Castle years ago. One thing that sticks out in my memory, is just about everywhere you turn there's a statue of a nude woman (not that I'm offended) but he seemed almost obsessed with having those around.

  • @lucindajennings148
    @lucindajennings148 8 місяців тому +4

    My late husband and I went there a number of times in the 80's . Loved taking the tours and a few times got to hear old gardeners who had worked there in its hey days! They were the interesting ones!😊

  • @rogerlewis1295
    @rogerlewis1295 8 місяців тому +5

    As an Ohio transplant attending Cal Poly during the mid-60’s, I toured the castle on the hill several times each year when friends and family arrived for a visit. I could give the tour information, almost verbatim as we made our way through the various tours. An incredible experience, to be certain! The California coast at San Simeon is oh so magical.

  • @frankmarter6845
    @frankmarter6845 8 місяців тому +12

    I first went to the Hearst estate 65 years ago. It was not kept up too well then and they only had one tour. I knew one of Marion’s stepsons so I was well informed about the place. I last went there 25 years ago on the night tour. It was an all together different experience. It was fun and WR would have enjoyed it too.

    • @oldmoneymansions
      @oldmoneymansions  8 місяців тому

      Thanks for sharing your story, Frank! Fascinating

    • @kathleenbrown6734
      @kathleenbrown6734 7 місяців тому

      I two went along time ago and the only tour was the garden tour no matter when we asked and would have come back. Everything was old and run down and even,the pool was cracked tiles and a lit green scum. people were not accommodating and the next year we tried aga8n only that tour and same condition. Never went back.

  • @williamcochell9889
    @williamcochell9889 7 місяців тому +1

    My parents took me and my brother to Hearst castle Back in the 1950s! I was absolutely blown away, I recall, they had several tour packages!And have remembered it vividly my whole life and I am now 78 years old! I had fantastic parents who won the same trips Took my brother and I to Disneyland of the 1950s also a highlight of memories!

  • @countryboy63077
    @countryboy63077 8 місяців тому +2

    Mr. Hearst parents were from St. Clair, MO, and I’ve heard so many stories growing up here. We even have the phoebe Apperson Hearst society museum.
    I hadn’t realized until today watching this video that he hadn’t started building until his mother died that same year. I’d love to see the castle sometime after hearing my grandmother talk about its grandeur. I did get to see it from the highway once while traveling, but due COVID like everything else it was closed. It’s still on my bucket list to see for myself the beauty within its walls, and grounds.
    Thanks for such a wonderful video!

  • @LoireValleyChateaux
    @LoireValleyChateaux 8 місяців тому +2

    William Randolph Hearts inherited 245,000 at San Simeon when his father passed away. ❤️🙏

  • @1949rangerrick
    @1949rangerrick 8 місяців тому +3

    My wife and I have been there several times. Sometime in the mid 1970’s they had a day where you could roam the entire home for one fee and the docents were placed all around the estate and when a group of visitors would gather around they would start to talk about that area. We saw so much beauty that day that we hadn’t seen before. On another visit a few years later, they had several tours again and I asked about the special day we had been there before and they explained that it didn’t work out because some visitors weren’t following the rules and it caused the program to be halted. We were very lucky to have been able to roam freely. Truly a National treasure.

  • @jonathanraven5939
    @jonathanraven5939 8 місяців тому +4

    I first visited Hearst in 1980 and was absolutely remarkable. Since then I have visited the castle 4 additional times and was totally amazed at all that I saw.

  • @michaelnaretto3409
    @michaelnaretto3409 8 місяців тому +3

    I went over Christmas. The place was decked out and even thought it was raining, it was a great visit....

  • @deannahammond4090
    @deannahammond4090 8 місяців тому +3

    My family and I went in the late 1970's, it was amazing, I would love to go back one day.

  • @williamlovely450
    @williamlovely450 8 місяців тому +2

    I was there in 1977 still love it

  • @MrBilly235
    @MrBilly235 8 місяців тому +4

    Visited in 2019 it was an amazing experience!

  • @winkieblink7625
    @winkieblink7625 8 місяців тому +3

    I’ve never seen it….and I live in CA! Would be nice to do someday.

  • @katherinespencer2633
    @katherinespencer2633 8 місяців тому +1

    I have visited the Castle, twice!! Want to return, again.

  • @user-jj1cq5vb6d
    @user-jj1cq5vb6d 7 місяців тому +1

    I have had the good fortune to visit Hearst Castle when I was very young. I have wanted to return again, this time with my husband, to show him the beautiful Hearst Castle and surrounding area. I'm so happy that it has been saved for history and visiting, to enable everyone to see it with their own eyes. England has Blenheim Castle (and many more), we have Hearst Castle.

  • @arbrimmer3813
    @arbrimmer3813 7 місяців тому +1

    I am so happy this marvel has been preserved for generations to come!!

  • @FletcherFinance
    @FletcherFinance 10 днів тому

    I'm a proud member of the Hearst Castle Foundation. It's really one of the biggest world wide art collections in one place. All open to the public for their enjoyment and education.

  • @jonathanraven5939
    @jonathanraven5939 Місяць тому +1

    I visited the Castle in 1980 when the visitors center was nothing more than a large trailer. It was absolutely stunning.

  • @TMendocino
    @TMendocino 8 місяців тому +2

    I have been to the La Cuesta Encantada many times. It is the very emblem of the CALIFORNIA DREAM. It is the very Grizzly on the Flag!

  • @maj6190
    @maj6190 8 місяців тому +2

    I visited Hearst Castle as a young teen in the mid-1960s. I was blown away by a total visual and historical overload. I went again in the late 1980s. The tour offered was a significantly abbreviated version of what I'd experienced two decades before, but still impressive. I treasure the memories.

  • @KA-su9ww
    @KA-su9ww 8 місяців тому +3

    I have been there a must see.

  • @annamaybeekman7141
    @annamaybeekman7141 7 місяців тому +2

    I USED TO WORK AT HEARST CASTLE. MY FAVORITE JOB OF MY LIFE

  • @Claireanlite
    @Claireanlite 8 місяців тому +2

    I visited Hearst Castle in the early 90's I was enthralled. It set off a passion to visit all the Grand Homes in the US. Last year I was able to cross off Biltmore. Which doesn't compare to the luxury of Hearst, but having read the history of Biltmore, it was well worth the visit. I have seen so many and many more to go. Thank you for the video.

  • @kennstransky
    @kennstransky 8 місяців тому +2

    visited in the early 1980's and it was overwhelming even in decline.

  • @abpccpba
    @abpccpba 8 місяців тому +3

    A real Treat. Thank You and California.

  • @Hummingbirds2023
    @Hummingbirds2023 8 місяців тому +1

    I have visited this Beautiful astonishing Castle! I loved it i am so happy the State of California has control and has had the funds to refurbish it and keep it as a National Park and allow anyone who wants to visit and tour it the right to do so. I love the indoor pool it took my breath away. I would have loved to be able to linger in each place we toured however there were many tours going on at the same time and that wasnt possible. I would go again in a minute, it would be hard to climb the stairs now, but i would certainly try. Thank you William Randolph Hearst for your beautiful Castle..💓💓💕

  • @3108frank1
    @3108frank1 7 місяців тому

    I saw Hearst Castle back in the 70's. I have pictures in an album and now after seeing this I have to dig them out. The weather was beautiful and the place was magnificent. Even this great video does not do it justice. The guy who narrates this is perfect for it.

  • @TerryB751
    @TerryB751 8 місяців тому +3

    I remember doing the castle tour in 2001 and it was gorgeous. Even then, there were additional buildings they pointed out that were in the process of renovation.

  • @thomasseiler233
    @thomasseiler233 8 місяців тому +1

    My husband and I visited the Castle several years ago. We loved every moment of our visit. The design, beauty and site are sublime. The guides and general staff were wonderful. It's worth a visit!

  • @CORNPOP24
    @CORNPOP24 8 місяців тому +3

    This is a wonderful video.

  • @danf321
    @danf321 8 місяців тому +3

    Thank God the Hearst castle was saved. I’d bet the legal battles were initiated by land developers who want to build houses atop the mountain. Save the Hearst Castle!

    • @danf321
      @danf321 8 місяців тому +1

      My wife and I first visited the Castle in 1979 on our Honeymoon, then we revisited in the mid-1980’s. We need to go back to enjoy the new developments.

  • @stephenrivera4382
    @stephenrivera4382 8 місяців тому +2

    Wonderful video - thank you! Visiting Hearst Castle is an unforgettable experience! We were there in 2015 and can’t wait to see it again.

  • @courageous1483
    @courageous1483 8 місяців тому +4

    I toured the Castle in 1993 and 2011. Our tour guide in 2011 took us into the "private rooms" not scene by the public. She stated the State of California had taken all the money from The Castle revenues and left the property in disrepair. Pretty sad.

    • @lucyroberts2800
      @lucyroberts2800 8 місяців тому

      But if they’d payed 95000 for it they were due it had to pay for it self surely the family basically offloaded it .

    • @oldmoneymansions
      @oldmoneymansions  8 місяців тому

      😢

  • @vrt42
    @vrt42 8 місяців тому +1

    We also visited this wonderful place several times and enjoy it when visiting family near bye! Thank those who were intelligent enough
    To preserve and maintain for those to come,❤😊

  • @dolorescraig8322
    @dolorescraig8322 8 місяців тому +6

    You never mentioned Marion Davis.

  • @randybutler4772
    @randybutler4772 8 місяців тому +3

    I would definitely like to visit this work of art and architecture. A long distance from my home in Virginia. Thank you for sharing.

  • @traywilson
    @traywilson 7 місяців тому

    I visited with my grandparents, aunt/uncle, and great aunt in 1987. I was 13. I was stunned by the art collection.

  • @suesabalburo6235
    @suesabalburo6235 8 місяців тому +2

    I got to tour one of the Hearst “guest houses” in 1990. It sure wasn’t a bungalow, but a mansion itself. Absolutely beautiful! Thank god this place wasn’t demolished, it would of been criminal!

  • @doriannemosich232
    @doriannemosich232 8 місяців тому +1

    Yes, as a pre teen my lovely parents took us on a family vacation which included Hearst Castle ! Now that I revisit via the film, it seems to blow away the English castle the king & queens have lived in in England! I have vivid memories of walking around the outdoor pool, I was very impressed wanted to jump in a swim! I am so happy my queen of a mother also a teacher/artist took us there. She then went on to designed the most beautiful luxury Mediterranean architecture, my dad helped her build! xxooxx miss you Mom & Daddy .

  • @kennixox262
    @kennixox262 8 місяців тому +4

    Five or six years ago they did a major renovation of the pool.

  • @joefranks4235
    @joefranks4235 8 місяців тому +1

    I've been to Hearst Castle twice. Once during my senior high school trip of 1977 and then in 2003 with my parents on a tour. My first visit was one of the tours for inside the castle. The one with my parents were in the gardens. The gardens were exquisite with numerous humming birds by the roses. I hope one day to visit again, but of course during the summer or fall months when the humming birds are in the gardens.

  • @YIQUANONE
    @YIQUANONE 7 місяців тому

    I took the tour in my early teens around 1974 with my parents, it was an unbelievable place, would love to see it again.

  • @christinemurphy7204
    @christinemurphy7204 7 місяців тому

    Yes i have been there and it was and is wonderful! Thank you to those that restored and protected it. I will visit again!!!

  • @cindymorrison_caravanlifej3536
    @cindymorrison_caravanlifej3536 7 місяців тому +1

    Can never be replicated visited and was phenomenal

  • @KC-wd1oc
    @KC-wd1oc 9 днів тому +1

    We visited the castle on our honeymoon in 1978. The parking was $5, and the ticket for the ground level tour was $10 per person. We thought that was high, but worth the experience.

  • @yodservant
    @yodservant 29 днів тому +1

    My old stomping grounds, lived right down the road in beautiful Cambria for many years ....❤😊

  • @user-dn8yr7ht9o
    @user-dn8yr7ht9o 6 днів тому +1

    I did visited the Hearst Castle in 1975, It looked great back then.

  • @deborahross9974
    @deborahross9974 7 місяців тому

    WOW. What a beautiful place and well worth being restored. I never visited it but I have seen it from a distance.. it was back in March of 1979, when my Mother and I visited California. We took a boat to Catalina Island and that's when we saw it. My goodness seeing this video of such a grand place sure showed me what we missed. So glad there were people that wanted it to be restored as it was certainly worth the trouble. Thank you. God bless.

  • @michaelhalahan
    @michaelhalahan 8 місяців тому +2

    I visited this place in 1977. One of my stops on a tour of all the Nat. Parks in the western US. One had to take a tour bus up to it. no parking lots on site. I was put off by how the smell of decaying furniture or anything with cloth constructions like rugs or drapery . I understand the restoration started in 1985 and from the film account , all orgs. involved did a good job on restoration to the original ideas the architect and Hearst himself envisioned. To me, it was always a hollywood star /big business get away location for the elites. I think in '77 there were still many animals Hearst collected and released to surrounding natural habitat --I wonder if any of the decendents are still in the area environs.
    I find National Parks far more beautiful to observe like Glacier and Yellowstone than man made stuff like Hearst castle. Also, don't know quite what to think of the 'Famous" saying above the quotes. Is that a joke? It seems such a Trite and Condescending way to refer to the Creator of the very Topography these buildings sit on. Obviously, a throwaway quote from the kind of People that used to frequent these buildings.

  • @lesliegriffith9830
    @lesliegriffith9830 8 місяців тому +1

    My family visited there back in 1976 and really enjoyed it.

  • @stlrsfan27
    @stlrsfan27 8 місяців тому +3

    Awesome video ,I've always heard about the castle but never knew much about it. Thank you for your hard work,it's appreciated.🤠😁

  • @michaelhealy1590
    @michaelhealy1590 8 місяців тому +1

    Most interesting video. This is a place definitely worth preserving.

  • @thomastrout9997
    @thomastrout9997 8 місяців тому +2

    Interesting side note; George Hearst originally owned the property and when W.R. was a boy he camped in the local hills and loved it so much that he swore to build a home on the land. Fortunately it came with a quiet little bay and a pier which facilitated the arrival of the European spoils that make up the interiors . All in all in worked out real well, until it didn't.

  • @allcreaturesgreatandsmall5956
    @allcreaturesgreatandsmall5956 7 місяців тому

    I toured Hearst Castle around 2010. I am so glad it will be restored to former glory as it was beautiful then.

  • @civilpanda9422
    @civilpanda9422 8 місяців тому +2

    Yes, I have visited and it was a great experience. I think it is well worth your time if you are in California.

  • @donnaallen8721
    @donnaallen8721 8 місяців тому +1

    I have been there many times since my childhood. From the day’s of feeding zebras along Highway 1 to the recent past. I slept on the beach below Sabastian’s as a teen and roamed the rocky coast from there to Cambria. I hope to return the “encahanted hilltop” before I loose this mortal coil and again revel in it’s beauty! Vincent

  • @constancenovysedlak4251
    @constancenovysedlak4251 24 дні тому

    Amazing place, been there twice, the pool area is absolutely gorgeous. The history,the stories,,they DEFINETELY NEED TO keep that place and restore it.

  • @reginaargentin2864
    @reginaargentin2864 8 місяців тому +1

    visited many times and will go again. in my first memory i overheard adults saying "it's a nice place but i wouldn't want to live there" I turned to my parents and I said "i would"

  • @debrathompson6121
    @debrathompson6121 8 місяців тому +1

    Hearst Castle was absolutely beautiful, just gave me chills to think of all the famous people that were there. We didn’t get to see the guest houses, hoping to get back and see them. But this is a must see…

    • @CrankyBeach
      @CrankyBeach 8 місяців тому

      I saw them when I was there in the late 1960s. The only things I remember are (a) they were bigger than a lot of my friends' homes, (b) they had cut a door through one interior wall (in a bathroom, I think, but I could be wrong) for better tourist traffic flow, and (c) one guest house was not on the tour because it was set aside for the use of Hearst family members.

  • @zerxilk8169
    @zerxilk8169 7 місяців тому

    Yes I have visited Hearst Castle long time ago when it was falling apart. I am so glad that they have saved it. It is a fond memory. Thank you.

  • @JoyceCasale-uu6us
    @JoyceCasale-uu6us 8 місяців тому

    1987…Took every available tour of this absolutely magnificent Hearst Castle, including taking tour buses up n down the Hill for each tour. Traveled with my 17-yr old daughter from New Jersey with this tour specifically in mind! Just magnificent!

  • @terrencec57
    @terrencec57 7 місяців тому

    Yes I have been to Hearst Castle several times, amazing experience architecture and artifacts, I have several pictures and memories of an experience I will never forget, earlier this year I was with a friend from Australia trying to go see it, they had somebody blocking the road stealing the road had been closed and was unknown when it was due to open again.

  • @douglasthompson9482
    @douglasthompson9482 8 місяців тому +1

    The mansion is beyond iconic….I have been there many times.

  • @jps3b
    @jps3b 7 місяців тому

    My wife and I visited Hearst castle during our honeymoon shortly after our wedding January of 1994. We returned for our one year anniversary and again with friends in 1996. Living in SoCal it’s not to bad of a drive especially when you stay in the wonderful places California central coast has to offer. I still have printed photographs because we were there before cellphone cameras. It’s still fun to look at these photographs now that my wife and I are looking to celebrate our 30th anniversary. The castle is an amazing landmark and I’m thankful that the state of California had the wisdom to create a historical landmark out of it. It’s a must see if you ever catch yourselves up that way.

  • @gregs2466
    @gregs2466 7 місяців тому

    I have toured/ visited the Castle twice in my lifetime. Once as a young boy while living in Hollywood and once while being a residence of Las Vegas, NV. with my family and it was the second stop on my family's travels up 101 to San Francisco. The castle has always been a joy to visit after spending the night in Santa Barabara. Then up to Carmel and Monterey.

  • @brianruhl5945
    @brianruhl5945 7 місяців тому

    My parents took my brother and I to see it in 1965 when I was 14. I have lasting Memories of it.

  • @nailady2207
    @nailady2207 7 місяців тому

    Having lived near the castle these last 40 years, you have captured the very essence of what the history and positive effects on the surrounding communities as well as the states park system. Thank you for your wonderful video.

  • @randalljackson7577
    @randalljackson7577 8 місяців тому

    I first visited the castle in the mid- sixties while in high school. I was impressed with the tour guides and the stories they told. In the early seventies as a newly wed couple we were able to take some additional tours that covered more than the main building. In early 2000 because we were friends with an archivist under contract with the state of California my wife and I were able to be part of staff visit and actually got to use the facilities as this was a Hearst tradition. This visit in clouded swimming in the Roman pool and special tours of the living quarters. In 2019 as part of our 50th wedding anniversary we toured the castle with our two girls their husbands and our five grandchildren. It was a spectacular day and one of our fondest family outings! Thank God for those who have worked so hard to preserve our national heritage!

  • @mindyfranke5279
    @mindyfranke5279 7 місяців тому

    Toured in 1980 and was impressed by it then. I'm so glad that it has been restored so that new generations of people can enjoy its splendor. Well worth the investment!

  • @user-oe7sq6cj7f
    @user-oe7sq6cj7f Місяць тому

    Yes, I visited Hearst Castle. I believe it was 1987. I was astounded to find out the architect was a woman. I then studied Julia Morgan and was absolutely amazed at what I learned. I was very impressed with the castle and everything around it. It is a fantastic place. I'm shocked tht anyone would ever have thought of tearing it down. I'm so glad it will continue to exist as a tourist attraction for the people of California and elsewhere to enjoy.

  • @afsharlady
    @afsharlady 7 місяців тому

    Absolutely great narrative and detailed, informative presentation. I would love to visit Hearst Castle someday!

  • @sjwilloughby-greene8214
    @sjwilloughby-greene8214 8 місяців тому

    I have never had the pleasure to visit. I will add it to my bucket list. Thank you for sharing. 💫💛💫

  • @LoneRanger-kk4mi
    @LoneRanger-kk4mi 12 днів тому

    I have visited Hearst Castle 6 times. I loved it every time. I was just there in 2023. I could go there every year, it's lots of fun, I would recommend to go and see it if you've never been.

  • @user-qy6yf4rn5u
    @user-qy6yf4rn5u Місяць тому

    I have visited Hearst Castle 3 times & was amazed every time! I am so glad it was restored & is being preserved & taken care of! It would be a shame on so many levels to lose this amazing place! This video didn’t mention that Hearst also had wild animals there!

  • @haroldb2663
    @haroldb2663 8 місяців тому +1

    Wonderful place to visit. I highly recommend it.

  • @carlbeamon1343
    @carlbeamon1343 8 місяців тому +1

    Yes I’ve visited Hearst Cattle and had the privilege to cater two events held there. It’s an amazing property with views unknown by the average person.

  • @lynchfam100
    @lynchfam100 7 місяців тому

    Thank you for the wonderful video! My wife and I visited Hearst Castle in 1974 on our honeymoon and we will revisit it on our 50th anniversary in 2024. Can't wait to see it again in it's renewed splendor!

    • @oldmoneymansions
      @oldmoneymansions  7 місяців тому +1

      Wow! That’s a beautiful memento!

    • @menssanaincorporesano2633
      @menssanaincorporesano2633 Місяць тому

      Well, it's 2024. Congratulations on your 50th anniversary. Hope you will celebrate your 100th anniversary in 2074 by visiting the Castle and may the Castle welcomes you back with all its splendor.

  • @julieschubert6341
    @julieschubert6341 7 місяців тому

    It's fun to visit around Christmas! The decorations are super.

  • @billhungstud
    @billhungstud 7 місяців тому

    Visited there twice and was a fantastic experience ! Kudos to the restoration !!

  • @bonwatcher
    @bonwatcher 7 місяців тому

    I visited Hearst Castle as a kid in the 70's and I'm pretty sure one could drive up to the castle back then and went again around 2015 where you park at the visitor center and take a bus up to the castle. It is a very unique place to visit and see all the artwork and opulence. Many people, even fellow Californians, don't even know about its existence.