SAN SIMÉON (CBSLA) – Hearst Castle in San Simeon remains closed to the public, but those keen to take a peek inside can still experience its luxurious gardens with a new Airbnb virtual tour.
Casa Grande measures 68,500 feet with 38 bedrooms, 30 fireplaces and 42 bathrooms at Hearst Castle on Tuesday, October 6, 2020 in San Simeon, California. Hearst Castle, one of California’s most popular tourist attractions, has been closed since mid-March due to the global coronavirus pandemic. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The new tour, from the Foundation to Hearst Castle, is brought to you by Airbnb Online Experiences. “Hearst & Hollywood” will be a 75 minute live virtual tour with a guide of California State Park. Each tour will have a maximum of 10 guests and will visit the iconic Neptune Pool, the main house known as Casa Grande, the esplanade and the extensive grounds of the estate.
Hearst Castle closed in March 2020, along with most of the state, to slow the spread of COVID-19, but its closure has been extended so park officials can repair roads on the property. The estate was built in the 1920s and 1930s by newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst and was a favorite destination during Hollywood’s heyday. Visitors included Charlie Chaplin, Cary Grant, Greta Garbo, Bette Davis and Clark Gable.
Tickets for the virtual tour cost $ 20 and benefit the Hearst Castle Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to conservation and education around the historic property. Tours begin July 13.
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