History
In 1953 the Hearst Corporation donated the area comprising the
William Randolph Hearst Memorial State Beach to San Luis Obispo
County in memory of William Randolph Hearst. Governor Goodwin
Knight dedicated the park as Hearst Memorial County Park on
June 14, 1953. The county operated the park as a campground
with twenty trailer hookups and additional campsites able to
accommodate seventy-five families. A 495-foot pier was completed
in October 1957. The pier was extended to 795 feet in length
by January 1969. In 1970 the Department of Parks and Recreation
transferred ownership of the property and the pier to the State
of California for operation by the Department of Parks and Recreation
to complement the operation of the adjacent Hearst San Simeon
State Historical Monument.
Day Use
Under the stewardship of the California State Parks, the park
was classified as a State Beach and renamed William Randolph
Hearst Memorial State Beach in 1971. The Department closed
the campground and replaced it with a day use area offering
24 picnic sites, 150 parking spaces, restrooms, water faucets,
barbecue grill stands and easy beach access. Recreational
activities include picnicking, swimming, fishing, boating,
kayaking
and sunbathing. There is a kayak and boogie board concession
in operation with equipment for rent. A festival commemorating
the nineteenth-century history of the local area, "A Day in
Old San Simeon", is held at the State Beach each year in May.
Fishing
Fishing licenses are not required when fishing from the pier
but limits are enforced. A fishing concession offering pole
and equipment rentals operates as weather permits. The fishing
party boats are currently operated out of Morro Bay but in
the near future boats will be leaving directly from the San
Simeon Pier. The concession building also provides general
fishing information and sells bait and snacks.
Hours of Operation
W.R. Hearst Memorial State Beach is open until sunset
and there is no camping available at this facility. Camping
is available at nearby San
Simeon State Park. The State Beach is located seven miles
north of Cambria on Highway 1 directly opposite the Hearst
San Simeon Historical Monument entrance.
For more information call (805) 927-2020.
"Hearst Castle", "Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument", "La Cuesta Encantada",
and "The Enchanted Hill" are registered trademarks of Hearst Castle®/California State Parks.
©2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 California State Parks, All rights reserved.
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