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| Click Photo for more information on The Hearst Ranch Conservation Project. |
George Hearst left his home state of Missouri when gold was discovered
in California in 1849. He made his money buying up overlooked mining claims that turned
out to be worth a fortune, and wound up owning some of the most valuable mines in the
country, including the famous Comstock silver mine in Virginia City, Nevada, and the
Homestake gold mine in the Black Hills of what is now South Dakota.
in California in 1849. He made his money buying up overlooked mining claims that turned
out to be worth a fortune, and wound up owning some of the most valuable mines in the
country, including the famous Comstock silver mine in Virginia City, Nevada, and the
Homestake gold mine in the Black Hills of what is now South Dakota.
In 1865, Hearst acquired ranch land in San Simeon on the Central Coast of California. He initially purchased
48,000 acres, but his holdings eventually grew to 270,000 acres. George began breeding cattle and developed the
ranch into one of the finest stock farms in the state. Hearst also had dairy, sheep, hog, poultry, orchards and Arabian
horses at the ranch. George’s son, the famous publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst, continued the ranching
operations.
48,000 acres, but his holdings eventually grew to 270,000 acres. George began breeding cattle and developed the
ranch into one of the finest stock farms in the state. Hearst also had dairy, sheep, hog, poultry, orchards and Arabian
horses at the ranch. George’s son, the famous publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst, continued the ranching
operations.
| Hearst Castle on its Enchanted Hill. |
William Randolph Hearst also built the fabled 161-room Hearst
Castle on the ranch in 1919 and filled it with art treasures from
around the world. Visitors to Hearst Castle included United States
presidents, Hollywood movie stars, foreign heads of state and
five-star generals. Hearst ranch also hosted the largest private zoo
in the world. Hearst Castle was given to the State of California by the
Hearst family in 1957 and is now one of the most popular tourist
attractions in the California State Park system.
Castle on the ranch in 1919 and filled it with art treasures from
around the world. Visitors to Hearst Castle included United States
presidents, Hollywood movie stars, foreign heads of state and
five-star generals. Hearst ranch also hosted the largest private zoo
in the world. Hearst Castle was given to the State of California by the
Hearst family in 1957 and is now one of the most popular tourist
attractions in the California State Park system.
Today the ranch surrounds Hearst Castle and comprises 80,000 acres, one of the largest working cattle ranches on
California's Central Coast. Remnants of Hearst's zoo can be seen in the zebras grazing the ranch along Highway 1
in San Simeon.
The cattle ranch was always part of the Hearst empire. By the 1990s the ranch, now owned by the Hearst
Corporation, had shrunk to a still gigantic 82,000 acres, including 18 miles of spectacular ocean shoreline.
For the past 25 years, the citizens of California have fought hard to preserve the scenic coastline, known as the
gateway to the Big Sur Coast, and the viability of agriculture on the Hearst Ranch. These battles were fought over
development rights, resorts, dude ranches and other proposals by Hearst. Thanks to a new conservation easement
agreement, this ranch land will be preserved forever.
In 2006, For $80 million in cash, and $15 million in tax credits, Hearst Corporation sold virtually all its development
rights on the ranch to the American Land Conservancy, which immediately transferred the easement to the
California Rangeland Trust. Hearst does retain the right to apply through regulatory authorities to build not more
than 27 luxury homes on the ranch property that would be visible from neither the Hearst Castle nor the scenic
Pacific Coast Highway, as well as a 100-room coastal inn, designed in 1929 by Hearst Castle architect Julia
Morgan, on San Simeon Bay. In addition, Hearst is donating 13 of its 18 miles of beachfront to the state, bringing the
transaction's total worth to $230 million. The ranch itself will remain private property, not open to the public, and
continue as a cattle operation.
New coastal access includes a continuous, 20-mile coastal trail and permanent access to some 30 new beaches.
California's Central Coast. Remnants of Hearst's zoo can be seen in the zebras grazing the ranch along Highway 1
in San Simeon.
The cattle ranch was always part of the Hearst empire. By the 1990s the ranch, now owned by the Hearst
Corporation, had shrunk to a still gigantic 82,000 acres, including 18 miles of spectacular ocean shoreline.
For the past 25 years, the citizens of California have fought hard to preserve the scenic coastline, known as the
gateway to the Big Sur Coast, and the viability of agriculture on the Hearst Ranch. These battles were fought over
development rights, resorts, dude ranches and other proposals by Hearst. Thanks to a new conservation easement
agreement, this ranch land will be preserved forever.
In 2006, For $80 million in cash, and $15 million in tax credits, Hearst Corporation sold virtually all its development
rights on the ranch to the American Land Conservancy, which immediately transferred the easement to the
California Rangeland Trust. Hearst does retain the right to apply through regulatory authorities to build not more
than 27 luxury homes on the ranch property that would be visible from neither the Hearst Castle nor the scenic
Pacific Coast Highway, as well as a 100-room coastal inn, designed in 1929 by Hearst Castle architect Julia
Morgan, on San Simeon Bay. In addition, Hearst is donating 13 of its 18 miles of beachfront to the state, bringing the
transaction's total worth to $230 million. The ranch itself will remain private property, not open to the public, and
continue as a cattle operation.
New coastal access includes a continuous, 20-mile coastal trail and permanent access to some 30 new beaches.
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| Hearst Ranch |
helped place the Hearst family among the top 100 private landowners in the United States. With 153,000 acres, the
Hearst family ranks 52 on a new ranking put together by The Land Report, a Dallas-based publication. The Hearsts,
Hearsts among nation’s top landowners.who have owned as much as 270,000 acres, still
own two ranches in California: the 73,000-acre Jack Ranch in Ranching lands going back nearly 150 years have
Cholame and the 80,000 acre Hearst Ranch adjacent to Hearst Castle in San Simeon.
Newer landowners have a lot to learn from families like the Hearsts. In 2004, the Hearst family placed most of their
San Simeon ranch under conservation easements. They also sold 13 miles of coastline to the California Department
of Parks and Recreation. The $95 million transaction was one of the largest land conservation deals in U.S. history.
Hearst family ranks 52 on a new ranking put together by The Land Report, a Dallas-based publication. The Hearsts,
Hearsts among nation’s top landowners.who have owned as much as 270,000 acres, still
own two ranches in California: the 73,000-acre Jack Ranch in Ranching lands going back nearly 150 years have
Cholame and the 80,000 acre Hearst Ranch adjacent to Hearst Castle in San Simeon.
Newer landowners have a lot to learn from families like the Hearsts. In 2004, the Hearst family placed most of their
San Simeon ranch under conservation easements. They also sold 13 miles of coastline to the California Department
of Parks and Recreation. The $95 million transaction was one of the largest land conservation deals in U.S. history.
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