If you have an extra $1,000 lying around, you might have a chance to swim in the famous Neptune Pool at the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California.
The Neptune Pool is a lavish novelty rarely open to the public, but an opportunity to swim is available to 50 people with deep enough pockets.
Reminiscent of the old Hollywood gatherings hosted by publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst himself, guests will begin their experience with a scenic ride up to the Enchanted Hill where the Hearst Castle is located. They will then head to historic dressing rooms and pick up a cabana towel in preparation to swim in the iconic Neptune Pool. After swimming, they will be treated to a curated selection of savory and sweet treats, as well as the Central Coast’s exceptional wines and craft beer.
Members of the Foundation at Hearst Castle, which itself has a $500-and-up annual membership fee, can pay $1,000 to swim in the worldrenowned pool on August 19 or 26.
The fundraising event is for the Foundation’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) programs, which it says serve youth from underserved communities in the state. Tickets are 95% tax-deductible.
Designed by Julia Morgan, a famous architect, the Greco-Roman-Style outdoor Neptune Pool reflects the palatial design of the castle. Constructed in three versions between 1924 and 1936, the Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle is 104 feet long, 58 feet wide, and 95 feet wide at the alcove. It is 3.5 feet deep at the west end, 10 feet at the drains, and holds 345,000 gallons of water. Other notable aspects of the Neptune Pool include: the (defunct) oil-burning heating system; the Vermont marble that lines the basin, gutters, and alcove; and gigantic marble Art Deco sculptural groups of Venus, cupids, and mermaids frolicking in the water.
The world-famous swimming pool was featured in a scene from Stanley Kubrick’s Spartacus and in a Lady Gaga video. Over the years, a long list of famous names have swum in its clear, blue waters, including Carole Lombard, Joan Crawford, Howard Hughes, Cary Grant, and Charlie Chaplin.
Once owned by media mogul William Randolph Hearst, the Hearst Castle is a hilltop mansion that includes a twin-towered main building, three sumptuous guesthouses, and 127 acres of terraced gardens, fountains, and pools.
