Hearst Castle, William Randolph Hearsts’ own Disneyland
Newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst created his own Disneyland - Hearst Castle. The palace, built in the 1930s and 40s by one of the most influential men on the West Coast, is located on the outskirts of the coastal village of San Simeon. The magnificent gardens and the rooms crammed with paintings and antiques create an aura of ostentation somewhat lacking in style. A plethora of seemingly haphazardly arranged artifacts include Roman statues, Byzantine mosaics and Flemish tapestry.
Hearst had different architects tinker around his dream castle for about 28 years until finally, in 1947, even the last detail was exactly how he wanted it. He held parties at this 165-room castle for nearly all who could be counted among Hollywood’s greats at the time. The media mogul wasn’t able to enjoy the luxury of his country home for long, though - he died in 1951, deeply in debt. His heirs signed over the estate to the state of California in return for a tax credit amounting to $50 million. Tours are conducted several times a day, although they must be reserved by phone in advance.
