We also stopped at Hearst Castle on our way back up to Northern California. It was previously home to a very wealthy newspaper publisher who enjoyed living the extravagant life and throwing even more extravagant parties in the early 20th century. I have trouble deciding whether this previously private estate is absolutely beautiful or a little sickeningly over the top. I do admit, however, that it is quite exquisite. This giant estate was built for only two people: Mr. Hearst and his mistress. Many of the pieces of art on display here are authentic pieces that date many centuries old. The temple at Neptune’s pool is made with authentic ancient Grecian columns and carvings–it looks like something you would see in a fancy hotel in Vegas, but these are the real deal. We learned that although Mr. Hearst started off quite wealthy, his extravagant desires eventually landed him in about $87,000,000 in debt. He was then forced to sell off a large portion of his land and do away with his personal zoo consisting of many exotic animals such as zebras and polar bears.
The Hearst Castle now belongs to the State of California and is maintained by CA Parks and Recreation. We are told that it costs approximately $10-$12 Million to upkeep each year.
