Hearst Castle

[Murphy66]

A few people have graced this forum with pix of the Pacific Coast Highway. I did not want to repeat their theme, nor could I match the quality of their shooting so I decided to share with you Hearst Castle in San Simeon, Ca.

It is a sprawling complex of buildings which is actually a recreation of a Tuscan village. It was built between the 1920's and 1950's by William Randolph Hearst, a newspaper publishing and entertainment mogul.

To give you an idea of the scope of things, at one time Hearst's ranch was 250 THOUSAND acres along the Pacific coast. At a time when the average American family was making $2,000 per year, he was making $50,000 per DAY.

Hearst loved to travel in Europe and often would buy historic chapels and buildings and have them shipped to his ranch and rebuilt.

It's an amazing tour, in fact it takes four tours to see only a quarter of the buildings and the grounds.

[Murphy66]

Heck of a front door.

[Murphy66]

This is his outdoor pool called the Neptune Pool. He was an avid swimmer.

From my humble estimation, it would take about 1200 people to fill it to the point of being 'crowded'.

[Murphy66]

As you can see, he enjoyed the Greco / Roman theme.

[Murphy66]

This is the SAME pool.

[Murphy66]

The rooms are too much to describe but I'll try to show a little of the opulence Hearst and his guests lived in. Here is a not-so-special guest room in one of the 'cottages'.

[Murphy66]

The rule of thumb is that if it looks gold, it is gold.

This is a 'decoration' in one of the alcoves in one of the guest rooms.

[Murphy66]

This place is a photographer's paradise but the downside is that you have to keep up with the tour. And they frown on tripods and monopods, as my buddy found out.

You know, there are some days when its cloudy so that's when you use the indoor pool. Remember, all the gold you see is 22 carat.

[Murphy66]

I realize that this comes as no shock to Andy, our fearless moderator, since HIS house has an indoor pool just like this. Or even better?

[Murphy66]

Here is the diving board.

It's facinating to think that everyone who was anyone in those days stayed at the castle as a guest of Hearst. You're walking the same steps as Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Dorothy Lamour, etc.

The only Hollywood star that refused an invitation was Katherine Hepburn. She told Hearst that she grew up on a farm and didn't need to see another one.

Some farm ...

Thanks for looking!

[firedancing4life]

great place...great pictures...looks like you caught little or no crowd?

[Murphy66]

The place is so big it's hard to tell how many people were there.

[wxwax]

Very cool! I really should add that place to my "must see" list. I really must start a "must see" list. :lol3

[Pezpix]

Great stuff! I used to love going to the Hearst Castle and take all four tours. They really have made it photographer unfriendly unfortunately, especially if you have any sort of support or stabilization as you said.

Also, just an FYI, selling images from the Hearst Castle is a big no-no so be cautious!

http://www.hearstcastle.com/contact/onsite_photography.asp

[Murphy66]

Thanks for the warning but I didn't intend on selling any shots, they were just vacation pix.

My buddy had a monopod and didn't get jumped by security until half way through the tour. You would have thought that the bus driver or the tour guide would have mentioned something before then.

Even more interesting is the fact that we were on the tour that highlights the gardens. We were outside most of the time so the monpod was even less of an issue.

I don't want people to think that Hearst Castle is a bad place to shoot. The difficulty there is deciding WHAT to shoot!

[mercphoto]

Thanks for the warning but I didn't intend on selling any shots, they were just vacation pix.

From the information page: "nor may they be published in any medium or format without prior written permission from the State of California."

Congratulations, you just published photos from the Castle. :)

[Murphy66]

I'll just turn myself in.

On the upside, maybe I'll get to meet the Guvonator!

[charlies-angel]

I'll just turn myself in.

On the upside, maybe I'll get to meet the Guvonator!


I've met him before...he's not all that!! :D

I just went to the castle over this last 4th of July weekend. It was so beautiful. I have all of the exact same photos as you do! We must have taken the same tour....

[Murphy66]

Wow, if you turn yourself in, too maybe we can be cellmates and talk photography ... for a few years. :D

[ehughes]

Great shots, I'm blown away every time I go. By the way, they make a pretty good Tri-Tip sandwich at the visitor center... ( I figured Andy might want to know) :):

[Murphy66]

Here was the view from Ragged Point, an inn on the cliffs a few miles north on Pacific Coast Highway.

Didn't eat at the visitors center but Ragged Point has a very nice restaurant.

[Murphy66]

Also taken at Ragged Point, just a few feet from the previous vista.

[marlof]

Thanks for the insight in his cramped quarters. :) I'm still not over people in the twentieth century building stuff like this. But then again, I usually prefer contemporary architecture over older castles and churches as well.

[Murphy66]

Your imagination can run wild with 250,000 acres to play with.