Hearst Castle reopening brings changes to tours and ticket prices. Here’s what to expect
Tourists will return to Hearst Castle on May 11 for the first time in more than two years, and they’ll see some changes from the last time they visited the famous hilltop estate.
The Castle suspended tours on March 16, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and then tackled a 10-month construction project to rebuild the access road leading to the San Simeon landmark, which delayed its reopening to this spring.
This March, California State Parks announced the long-awaited end of the closure, along with an update on what visitors should expect.
Here’s a quick look at what’s new.
Changes to Hearst Castle tours
One of the most notable changes is that the Castle tours won’t include the option that allowed guests to wander the gardens on their own after the guided portion of their visit to publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst’s former estate.
That popular feature is on hold for now but is expected to return as soon as the state allows it, according to Dan Falat, superintendent of the parks district that includes the Castle.
Instead, guests will ride the bus up to the hilltop, take the guided tour and then return directly to the bus after seeing the indoor Roman Pool, for the ride back down to the Visitor Center.
State Parks is adding a new tour option for visitors who want to learn more about the architect who designed the Castle, according to a news release.
The new Julia Morgan Tour honors the life and career of the pioneering architect and designer and will include “rarely seen areas of the Castle that highlight her gift for design, and photographic displays of architectural drawings, family photos and personal items.”
Ticket prices and reservations
Visitors familiar with the Castle’s previous ticket prices might be surprised to see the cost increase from $25 to $30 per person for the three main tours, but the final price actually isn’t rising, Falat said.
State Parks has simply streamlined the ticketing process to include reservation and other fees that had been added on to the listed price, he said. The change will actually reduce prices by $3 to $6, State Parks said.
Some special-focus, semi-private tour tickets cost the same as before, but those prices also incorporate the fees.
Tour reservations — always recommended but now more than ever because of pent-up demand — can be made via phone at 800-444-4445 or online at hearstcastle.org.
Tickets will be available for purchase at the Visitor Center, but “advance reservations are strongly recommended,” Falat stressed.
“We’ve all been closed for more than two years. That’s been a challenge for all of us, given what we’ve all gone through,” he said. “Now, we’re really excited to get back to normal operations, welcoming back our visitors, showing them what we’ve done and accomplished during the closure.”
This story was originally published March 24, 2022 at 11:05 AM.
