Escape the Valley heat and take a dip in the historic Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle

Sheyanne N Romero, Visalia Times-Delta
·2 min read
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Foundation at Hearst Castle members are invited to swim in the historic Neptune Pool, where elites like Joan Crawford, Howard Hughes, and Charlie Chaplin once dipped their toes.

Those lucky enough to attend the exclusive Aug. 26 swim event will take a dip in the iconic pool and be treated to Central Coast wines and craft beer.

A 40-person limit is in place for the event, and only a foundation member can make reservations. Members can invite up to 10 guests. Reservations are first come, first serve and cost $1,000 a person.

Annual memberships start at $500 and include invitations to all members-only events. The Foundation at Hearst Castle’s mission is to support the conservation and restoration of Hearst Castle and to offer youth programs for underserved middle school students, according to the foundation's website.

In 2022, after a two-year hiatus, the Foundation at Hearst Castle resumed fundraising events. The estate was closed following the COVID-19 pandemic and severe rainstorms that damaged the access road to the castle in early 2021.

The Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle is 104 feet long, 58 feet wide, and 95 feet wide at the alcove.
The Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle is 104 feet long, 58 feet wide, and 95 feet wide at the alcove.

La Cuesta Encantada

The construction of the Neptune Pool happened over three stages between 1924 and 1936. The outdoor pool is 104 feet long, 58 feet wide, and 95 feet wide at the alcove. It is 3.5 feet deep at the west end, 10 feet at the drains, and holds 345,000 gallons of water.

The Neptune Pool includes a marble Art Deco sculptural group of Venus, cupids, and mermaids in the water.

William Randolph Hearst started to build the now famous estate overlooking the village of San Simeon in 1919. By 1947, the complex included a twin-towered main building, three guesthouses, and 127 acres of gardens, fountains, and pools.

Hearst called the estate "La Cuesta Encantada," Spanish for The Enchanted Hill.

Tour reservations are recommended and can be made online at HearstCastle.org or by calling (800) 444-4445. Hearst Castle is just a 2.5-hour trip from Visalia to the Central Coast at 750 Hearst Castle Rd., San Simeon.

The Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle is 104 feet long, 58 feet wide, and 95 feet wide at the alcove.
The Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle is 104 feet long, 58 feet wide, and 95 feet wide at the alcove.

Event details:

  • Saturday, Aug. 26, from 6 to 9 p.m.

  • Members only

  • 40 guests max

  • First, come, first-served

  • Reservations 95% tax-deductible

  • Members may reserve space for up to 10 guests

  • Pool is not heated. Wetsuits welcome

  • All ages welcome

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Here's how you can take a swim in the Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle...