Accessibly Designed Tour

The Accessibly Designed Tour is an option for individuals who have difficulty with climbing up and down stairs, or who have difficulty with standing or walking for lengths of time.  The tour route is similar to the Tour 1 route but without any stairs.  Visitors may use their own wheelchairs, or may borrow one from our facility at no charge.  This tour is also designed for visitors who need to walk at a slower pace using ramps rather than stairs.  A specially equipped bus can accommodate wheelchairs and takes visitors to the historic hilltop estate to meet the guide for the tour.  Trams are used to escort visitors on the tour route.

Reservations for this tour for up to two people can be made online.  This tour is listed as Tour 6.  Reservations can also be made by calling 1-866-712-2286.

This tour provides visitors with a broad overview of the Castle, and features the following large rooms of the main house, Casa Grande:

• The Assembly Room, once the gathering place for Mr. Hearst and his guests, which included movie stars, politicians and other notable people of the day.
• The Refectory where visitors dined at long tables surrounded by tapestries and fine art.
• The east-facing Morning Room, another gathering place for guests and filled with antiques.
• The Billiard Room where guests gathered to play pool and billiards.
• The Theater where guests would end the day watching current movies and newsreels.
• The Kitchen which was furnished with modern equipment of the day and was large enough for staff to prepare meals for Mr. Hearst's many guests. 

This tour visits the top floor of Casa del Mar, the largest of the three guest houses.  This guest house was also used by Mr. Hearst during the last years that he resided at the estate.

Visitors also tour the esplanade which winds through the historic gardens, featuring sculptures and seasonal flowers.  In addition, the beautifully tiled indoor Roman Pool is seen on this tour.

Included in the Accessibly Designed Tour is the National Geographic Theater companion movie, "Hearst Castle - Building the Dream."  This is a 40-minute movie and is shown throughout the day. 

The entire tour is 1 hour and 45 minutes in length, including the hilltop tour and the two 15-minute bus rides up and down the hill.