A Day on the Enchanted Hill

Hearst Castle was built by publisher William Randolph Hearst in the early 1900's in San Simeon, California overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Julia Morgan was the famed architect. It truly is a castle on a hill. They call it the Enchanted Hill.  The Hearst Family gave it to the State of California in the 1950's. It is now part of the state park system. Thousands upon thousands of tourists visit it each year. I've toured the Castle several times over the years. Worth the ticket. http://www.hearstcastle.org/

What the visitors don't tour is the Hearst's Piedra Blanca Rancho adjacent to the Castle. It is still in the Hearst Family and is a working cattle ranch. It isn't a tourist venue. A little place...just 250,000 of the most beautiful (and valuable) acres in all the world.

Today I was at the ranch in meetings with my colleagues. I know, rough duty, but ya gotta meet somewhere. We were the guests of Roland Camacho, the Cattle Operations Manager. He is a nice guy working to provide the very best quality grass fed beef they can raise. He knows his stuff. Says all the right things and is a  good spokesperson for what our American ranchers are doing to meet consumer demands. It was all very interesting. I must admit however, I was distracted by the view! See for yourself at http://www.hearstranch.com/.

Wow.

It is difficult to imagine that one family could be so blessed as to have this much square footage of heaven. I think even God might be a little jealous. This vistas are breathtaking -- even for a guy like me who lives along the Central Coast of California just minutes from the nearest beach. I see the ocean everyday, but not from the heights I saw today. These are the views that get etched in your memory and provide comfort when times get crazy.

I look forward to returning to the ranch. The beauty of nature so grand will never get old.

Scott