Hearst Castle closed as heavy rains, strong winds pummel North Coast
Hearst Castle was closed Monday due to severe winter weather.
No tours will be given at the former San Simeon estate of media mogul William Randolph Hearst, according to Dan Falat, superintendent of California State Parks’ San Luis Obispo Coast District, which includes the Castle.
Falat said the decision to halt tours and close the monument was based on potential safety hazards caused by the wild weather.
High winds, heavy rain and sodden soil were among the major concerns, he said.
A few trees already had fallen on the Castle shortly before 9 a.m. Monday, Falat said, adding that he was not aware of any damage to the property.
The Hearst Castle Visitor Center, located about 5 miles downhill from the hilltop Castle compound, remained open Monday.
A decision on whether Hearst Castle will remain closed Tuesday could be made later Monday or early Tuesday, Falat said.
Rangers and maintenance crew members continue assessing conditions in all state parks in the district, Falat said, noting there were trees down at Montana de Oro State Park near Los Osos.
Closures remained in effect for the pier in San Simeon, Morro Bay Natural Historical Museum, the lower State Park Road in Morro Bay State Park and parking areas at Studio Drive and 24th Street at Morro Strand.
Access to Spooner’s Cove in Montana de Oro State Park near Los Osos was blocked.
Strong winds and heavy rain had been pounding the North Coast since about 3 a.m. Monday.
There was flooding related to Santa Rosa Creek at Windsor Boulevard and Moonstone Beach Drive near Highway 1.
Tammy Hall, assistant general manager of the Old Cambria Marketplace and Shell station, said waters were rising at the gas station off Main Street even though the flood control pump was running.
More than a dozen fallen trees and electrical emergencies had been reported in Cambria by 9 a.m.
One tree fell into a house on Bradford Road in Cambria, according to the Cambria Fire Department.
Sodden hillsides were slumping and low-lying areas were filling with water.
A total of about 640 PG&E customers were without power as of 11 a.m. Monday, according to the utility company’s outage map.
Although San Luis Coastal Unified School District canceled classes on Monday and Paso Robles Unified School District sent students home early, Coast Unified School District in Cambria reopened its campuses after the winter break, according to Bonnie Duston, secretary to Superintendent Scott Smith.
Duston said she expected that more students than usual might be absent due to the storm, however.
This story was originally published January 9, 2023 at 11:17 AM.
