The California Department of Parks and Recreation will reopen Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument (Hearst Castle) on Monday August 29, 2016. All tour operations will return to normal on this date.

On Aug. 13, 2016 the Chimney Fire broke out near Lake Nacimiento in San Luis Obispo County. To date the fire has burned approximately 45,108 acres and is currently 52 percent contained. From August 20 through August 28, 2016, Hearst Castle was closed due to the proximity of the Chimney Fire and active firefighting efforts.

Thank you to the many firefighters, other public agencies, and community partners who worked tirelessly to help protect Hearst Castle and its surroundings. The department would also like to thank the public for their patience as it collectively responded to this emergency.

For information on the Chimney Fire, please contact (805) 543-2444. Tour reservations at Hearst Castle are strongly recommended and may be made at www.hearstcastle.org or by calling (800) 444 4445.

La Cuesta Encantada, “The Enchanted Hill” high above the ocean at San Simeon, was the creation of two extraordinary individuals, William Randolph Hearst and architect Julia Morgan. Their collaboration, which began in 1919 and continued for nearly 30 years, transformed an informal hilltop campsite into the world-famous Hearst Castle — a magnificent 115-room main house plus guesthouses, pools, and 8 acres of cultivated gardens. The main house itself, “Casa Grande,” is a grand setting for Hearst’s collection of European antiques and art pieces. It was also a most fitting site for hosting the many influential guests who stayed at Hearst’s San Simeon ranch. Guests included President Calvin Coolidge, Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, Charles Lindbergh, Charlie Chaplin, and a diverse array of luminaries from show business and publishing industries.
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