Hearst Castle

The palatial country house of the late media mogul William Randolph Hearst lies 1600 feet above the Pacific Ocean on California's Central Coast. Originally built by architect Julia Morgan as a family retreat, it quickly became a playground of the rich and famous during its heyday in the 1920s and 1930s. Hearst built the nation's largest media empire, including more than two dozen newspapers in major cities nationwide, magazines, wire and photo services, newsreels, radio stations and film production. His ventures in business and movies brought him in close contact with movie stars and luminaries of their time. Hearst Castle provided the perfect west coast venue to bring these groups together for socializing, rest, and relaxation.