Hearst Ranch

Image:Hearst Ranch by D Ramey Logan.jpg to Highway 1 and San Simeon. Wooded peninsula is San Simeon Point.]]

The Hearst Ranch is composed of two cattle ranches in central California. The best known is the original Hearst Ranch, which surrounds Hearst Castle and comprises about {{convert|80000|acre|km2}}. George Hearst (1820–1891) bought over {{convert|30000|acre|km2}} of Rancho Piedra Blanca, an 1840 Mexican land grant, in the late 19th century. He also bought most of Rancho San Simeon, and part of Rancho Santa Rosa, two other adjacent land grants.

The other ranch is the {{convert|73000|acre|km2|adj=on}} Jack Ranch at Cholame, California, which was acquired by the Hearst Corporation in 1966. The Jack Ranch comprises most of Rancho Cholame, an 1844 land grant, plus additional lands. The ranch's Circle C brand is the oldest registered brand in use in California.{{cite web|url=http://www.hearstranch.com/about/|title=About|website=Hearst Ranch|access-date=8 February 2019}}

A third collection of Hearst ranches was acquired by the Army to form Fort Hunter Liggett.

Description

The Hearst ranch produces branded grass-fed beef for the retail markets, selling primarily to Whole Foods in Southern California. The ranch is managed by Stephen Thompson Hearst, the great-grandson of William Randolph Hearst. The ranch is permanently protected under a conservation agreement signed in 2005 by the Hearst Corporation, American Land Conservancy, California Rangeland Trust, and the State of California.[http://www.sfgate.com/food/article/Grass-fed-beef-tops-Hearst-Ranch-business-ventures-5647624.php Grass-fed beef tops Hearst Ranch business ventures], San Francisco Chronicle, July 25, 2014{{cite web|url=https://rangelandtrust.org/2019/04/07/hearst-ranch/ |title=Hearst Ranch |date=7 April 2019 |publisher=California Rangeland Trust|access-date=February 26, 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/community/cambrian/article39512742.html|title=Hearst Ranch conservation project marks 10-year anniversary|website=sanluisobispo|access-date=8 February 2019}}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/09/20/us/hearst-land-settlement-leaves-bitter-feelings.html|title=Hearst Land Settlement Leaves Bitter Feelings|first=Nick|last=Madigan|date=20 September 2004|access-date=8 February 2019|work=The New York Times}}

Airport

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.{{cite web | url=https://www.airfieldsfreeman.com/CA/Airfields_CA_SanLuisObispo.htm#hearst | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026234743/http://www.airfields-freeman.com/CA/Airfields_CA_SanLuisObispo.htm#hearst | url-status=live | archive-date=October 26, 2014 | title=Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: California: San Luis Obispo area }} It was moved to its third and present location in 1946. It is not open to public traffic.{{cite web | url=https://hearstcastle.org/history-behind-hearst-castle/the-castle/hearst-airport/ | title=Hearst Airport - Hearst Castle | date=10 September 2012 }}

References

External links

{{official website|http://www.hearstranch.com}}

{{Coord|35|42|N|121|10|W|type:landmark_region:US-CA_dim:20km|display=title}}

Category:Hearst family residences

Category:Ranches in California

Category:Protected areas of San Luis Obispo County, California