Hearst Castle may not reopen for months, but not due to COVID-19
–Hearst Castle may not reopen for months, but the delay is not related to COVID-19. State park officials say they recently discovered several sinkholes near the road up the hill from the visitor’s center to the hilltop. They are concerned that the buses carrying as many as 54 passengers up the hill may be at risk traveling the long road up the hill.
State park staff has been busy making other improvements. They recently resealed and restriped the parking lot at the visitor’s center.
Superintendent Dan Falat of the San Luis Obispo Coast District of CA State Parks says the torrential rains which washed out part of Highway One also created issues for the road that architect/civil engineer Julia Morgan designed up the hill to the historical monument.
The new logo designed by Hearst Castle Tour Guide Sharon Foelz celebrates the 100th anniversary of the monument.
“We had more than 20 inches of rain during that 18-hour storm event,” Falat says. Engineers will evaluate the stability of the roadway. Falat says that engineering study will take 4-6 months. When that report is received, then the state will determine the next course of action.
Meanwhile, the state park staff is making other improvements. They recently resealed and restriped the parking lot at the visitor’s center.
The logo designed by Hearst Castle Tour Guide Sharon Foelz celebrating the 100th anniversary of the monument has not enjoyed the exposure it deserved because of the COVID-19 shutdown.
