By Kathe Tanner
From The Sacramento Bee
Sacramento, Calif. — With bright 100th anniversary flags flying over new displays in the visitor center, Hearst Castle is now open to the public for the first time since March 16, 2020.
The sense of excitement on the May 11 reopening day was palpable.
Visitors heading for the first tour of the day cheered as they got on the bus at the visitor center and when they exited it on the hilltop. There, tour takers were greeted by more cheers from staffers eager to have the public back at the historic monument in San Simeon.
The former estate of media magnate William Randolph Hearst had been closed to visitors for more than two years due to COVID-19 precautions and a $13.7 million project to repair about half of the storm-damaged access road that connects the visitor center to the hilltop….