TheHearst Ranch is composed of two cattle ranches in central California. The best known is the original Hearst Ranch, which surroundsHearst Castle and comprises about 80,000 acres (320 km2).George Hearst (1820–1891) bought over 30,000 acres (120 km2) ofRancho Piedra Blanca, an 1840 Mexican land grant, in the late 19th century. He also bought most ofRancho San Simeon, and part ofRancho Santa Rosa, two other adjacent land grants.[1]
The other ranch is the 73,000-acre (300 km2) Jack Ranch atCholame, California, which was acquired by the Hearst Corporation in 1966. The Jack Ranch comprises most ofRancho Cholame, an 1844 land grant, plus additional lands. The ranch's Circle C brand is the oldest registered brand in use in California.[1]
A third collection of Hearst ranches was acquired by the Army to formFort Hunter Liggett.
The Hearst ranch produces branded grass-fed beef for the retail markets, selling primarily toWhole Foods in Southern California. The ranch is managed by Stephen Thompson Hearst, the great-grandson ofWilliam Randolph Hearst.[2] The ranch is permanently protected under a conservation agreement signed in 2005 by theHearst Corporation,American Land Conservancy,California Rangeland Trust, and the State of California.[2][3][4][5]
The ranch has a private airstrip, Hearst Airport. It was first constructed in 1928 or before. In 1935 or 1936 it was moved to a different location.[6] It was moved to its third and present location in 1946. It is not open to public traffic.[7]
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