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Would You Pay $950 to Attend a Pool Party at Hearst Castle?

June 16, 2019
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3 min read
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Would You Pay $950 to Attend a Pool Party at Hearst Castle?
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Beverly Hills may be known for outlandish celebrity homes, but in San Simeon on the Central Coast, a Jazz Age mansion to rival that of the Great Gatsby is opening up its two pools for select dates this summer — for anyone willing to pay $950 and become a member of the Foundation at Hearst Castle, that is.

Hearst Castle was commissioned by publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst — whose empire, though diminished, still publishes Cosmopolitan, Harper's Bazaar and Town & Country, among other titles — and took more than 20 years to complete. Hearst's father, George, had made a fortune in the California Gold Rush and bought the failing San Francisco Examiner to further his political career. William Randolph grew the business into a superpower and dominated publishing for the first half of the 20th century.

He hired architect Julia Morgan to build the palatial 165-room abode in 1919 and filled it with priceless art and artifacts from Europe and beyond. According to the Los Angeles Times, the two pools are among the most photographed parts of the mansion, which is now run by the California State Parks system.

The Roman pool at Hearst Castle. (Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen / Unsplash)

The 104-foot-long Neptune Pool — famous for its colonnades and Italian relief sculptures — will be open from 6:30pm to 8:30pm on July 6; on Aug. 3 and 14; and again on Sept. 21 for up to 40 guests. Last October, the pool was reopened after a $10 million renovation that required it to be drained and have cracks repaired. The massive pool is more than three feet deep at the shallow end, 10 feet deep in the deep end and holds 345,000 gallons of water.

The indoor Roman Pool will be open for just 20 guests during the same hours on July 20 and Oct. 19. The mosaic tiles surrounding the pool were inspired by a 5th-century mausoleum in Ravenna, in northern Italy, and the pool is flanked by statues of Greek and Roman gods, goddesses and heroes.

Pool parties will include "a fabulous selection of fancy foods, as well as the Central Coast's finest wines and craft beers." Members of the Foundation at Hearst Castle — a nonprofit dedicated to the estate's preservation — can attend for $950 per person (Hearst Castle's director of development confirmed to The Points Guy that the pool parties are for members only). The events are meant as fundraisers to support the preservation of Hearst Castle's grounds and art collection as well as new youth programs designed to inspire underserved middle school students in California.

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Not a member? Memberships start at $500, which includes three tour tickets and a $50 store credit.

Then again, for just $25 you can take a tour of Hearst Castle — pool time not included.

Featured image by Photograph by Victoria Garaglian

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.