Cabria and San Simeon (Hearst Castle) Real Estate
| The place we now call Cambria was once part of the lands of the Mission San Miguel. After Mexico declared its independence from Spain in 1821, the Missions were secularized and the lands were given to prominent individuals through the land grant system. |  |
Early industries in the area included cinnibar mining, and sales, lumbering, dairying, beef-cattle ranching and grain and orchard farming.The downtown area along Main Street was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1889. Many of the residential buildings were centered around Lee and Center streets (Lee is now called Burton Drive) and survived the fire. Many of the homes were quite lavish for the times and today house commercial ventures. In 1894, the railroad came to San Luis Obispo County bypassing Cambria and causing a sharp decline in shipping. Even so, Cambria continued as a quiet, isolated farming community. The advent of the automobile in the 1920s caused an improved road to be built to Cambria and brought land developers. The Cambria Pines Lodge was built so that prospective land buyers would have a place to stay. Then, in 1958, Hearst Castle became a state park and was opened to the public. This brought throngs of tourists to the area clogging the roads until a Highway One bypass was built carrying the traffic around the downtown areas.
Cambria is located about 15-20 miles West of Paso Robles and Atascadero on the coast. This area has a delightful reputation of being an artist community. The unique architecture, green landscape, and coastal location make it a cozy get away for artists, writers, and the like. Property prices are about 20% more than Paso Robles and Atascadero due to the coastal influence.
It isn't accurate to say that San Simeon would not exist if it were not for William Randolph Hearst. It is close however. Perhaps the most famous piece of Hearst real estate is La Cuesta Encantada; Spanish for The Enchanted Hill. After the death of William Randolph Hearst in 1951, it was deeded to the State of California and is now a tourist attraction. Mr. Hearst's fortune came from the publishing industry and with it he embarked upon a mission to create a US castle that would rival those found in Europe. Hearst Castle, officially known by the State of California as the "Hearst State Historical Monument at San Simeon".
San Simeon State Park is one of the oldest units of the California State Park System. The coastal bluffs and promontories of the scenic park offer unobstructed views of the ocean and rocky shore. The park includes the Santa Rosa Creek Natural Preserve, the San Simeon Natural Preserve and the Pa-nu Cultural Preserve which were established in 1990.
A 3.3 mile trail runs through parts of the San Simeon Natural Preserve and the Washburn Campground. The trail includes scenic overlooks, rest-stop benches and interpretive panels with information on wildlife and habitat. A portion of the trail along the seasonal wetland is wheelchair accessible.
If you’re looking for that coastal get away nestled among the California Pines and at the mouth of the world renowned Giant Big Sur Red woods, then perhaps Cambria Real Estate or San Simeon Real Estate is the place to look.
| Interesting Area Articles | |
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Escape to Cambria |
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Cayucos to Cambria |
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Beach Town Classics |
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The Quiet San Luis Obispo Coast |
| Helpful Links | |
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www.SanSimeonChamber.com - San Simeon Chamber of Commerce |
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www.HearstCastle.com - Hearst San Simeon State Historical Monument |
| Need More Information? | |
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Contact Cassandra |
