Visitor Center Remodel Will Serve as the "Gateway" to the Hearst Castle® Visitor Experience

   San Simeon, CA - On Thursday, October 12, 2006, the Hearst Castle® Visitor Center will begin a remodel to upgrade and improve the existing visitor services at Hearst Castle®. The current Visitor Center opened approximately 20 years ago and the upgrades planned for the remodel will make for a higher quality visitor experience that is more relevant to Hearst Castle®. The Visitor Center will remain open during this project.

   As the food and gift concessionaire, the ARAMARK Corporation is funding this project at a cost of $3.9 million. No state funding will be spent on this upgrade. California State Parks will oversee the scope of the work and overall goal of the project to begin the visitor experience to Hearst Castle® at the Visitor Center. The local community provided input during the planning process of this upgrade and the improvements are designed to improve the quality of the current services and facilities. The following are some of the highlights planned for the project:

• Construction of a new entrance to the Visitor Center featuring Hearst Castle® architecture.
• Revitalized Gift and Museum Shops including a library/theater area.
• New Outdoor Patio Garden Shop featuring live plants from the Castle and garden art.
• New food and beverage kitchen and serving area with a new menu.
• New Mediterranean courtyard with patio seating.

   The Visitor Center footprint will not be expanded and the project should be completed for the start of the Summer 2007 visitor season. Although during the construction there will be some minor inconveniences, food and gift concessions will remain open to the public. The Museum Galleries and the National Geographic Theater at Hearst Castle are not part of the project and will remain open during the remodeling process.

   "We are looking for the best way for the public to begin their Hearst Castle® experience at the Visitor Center," said District Superintendent Nicholas Franco of San Luis Obispo Coast District. "The remodel will create a more relevant Hearst Castle® experience starting at the Visitor Center as the 'gateway' to the Castle. We are planning for this to be the first of some changes in anticipation of the Castle's 50th Anniversary in June 2008."

   Updates on the current status and progress of the remodel project will be provided on an ongoing basis to the public and local community.

   For more information regarding this project, please contact Nicholas Franco, District Superintendent of San Luis Obispo Coast District at (805) 927-2065 or nfranco@hearstcastle.com.