Step onto the grounds of Hearst Castle, and you’d expect marble staircases, gilded ceilings, and sweeping views of the Pacific. Instead, your first encounter might be something far less glamorous: a row of large portable toilets right outside of the visitor center.
What was meant to be a temporary solution during the 2022 drought is now a fixture.
California State Parks first closed the restrooms at the Hearst San Simeon Historical Monument Visitor Center in July 2022 as part of stage 3 of its drought contingency plan—the highest level of restrictions, according to Dan Falat, the San Luis Obispo Coast District superintendent for State Parks. The closure was prompted by declining spring water production and the need to preserve water for essential operations, including firefighting reserves.
During the height of California’s 2022 drought, state agencies were required to implement contingency plans to reduce water usage. At Hearst Castle, that meant targeting one of the largest sources of consumption: restrooms.
Portable toilets were deployed at the visitor center and nearby Hearst Beach. Irrigation stopped, buses and staff vehicles ceased routine washing, and additional water sources were tapped, a 2022 press release explained.
“We are no longer under those drought restrictions,” Falat said. “At this point, it kind of morphed into some infrastructure issues, and we’ve never taken the porta-potties out because we’ve been working through those infrastructure issues.”
Rather than relying on municipal water, Hearst Castle draws from two natural springs east of the property, feeding a gravity-powered network of roughly 33 reservoirs above the castle, Falat explained. Water travels downhill to supply the main house, pools, gardens, and visitor facilities, with treatment occurring on-site before it becomes potable.
“It’s actually a very remarkable system,” Falat said. “It goes for about 2.5 miles, and everything is gravity fed. There’s no electricity whatsoever.”
The system was created during the early 20th century collaboration between William Randolph Hearst and architect Julia Morgan and has served the property for nearly a century—but age and increasing demand have taken a toll.
The water treatment plant, installed in the 1970s, reached the end of its useful life.
“It had aged out,” Falat said. “We had to replace it before we risked losing the system entirely.”
A temporary system was installed in 2023 to keep the water flowing to the visitor center, staff areas, and concessions—but it struggles during peak visitor months.
Compounding the problem, crews discovered a leak beneath one of the reservoirs that supply the lower portion of the property.
“When the leak is under the reservoir itself, you can’t just patch it,” Falat explained. “You have to identify the exact source and design a long-term solution.”
The sewer system also experienced issues, including root intrusion and stormwater infiltration. While many of these problems have been repaired, they collectively strain the estate’s water supply.
“It’s really supply and demand,” Falat said. “If you run the systems dry, that can be catastrophic failure. The visitor center is a very active place, a lot of water usage, and I think at the end of the day, once we’re able to redesign and update these water systems, we’re going to end up with a much better system.”
According to the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, the state has become increasingly dry since 1895: “From 2012 to 2016, California experienced the most severe drought on record: 13 of the 30 driest months on record occurred during this period. … Five of the 30 driest months on record occurred in 2021 and 2022.”
At Hearst Castle, these long-term water trends add urgency to modernizing a system designed for bygone era. The estate itself—comprising the 115-room La Casa Grande, guesthouses, pools, and 8 acres of cultivated gardens—relies on this water not only for daily operations but also to preserve its historic and cultural value.
The main house holds Hearst’s art collection and has hosted figures such as Winston Churchill, President Calvin Coolidge, George Bernard Shaw, and Charlie Chaplin.
State Parks is now navigating permitting, environmental review, and design approvals to rebuild the water treatment plant and repair the reservoirs.
“We’re in the final planning stages,” Falat said. “We’ve identified the issues, addressed some of them, and are now working toward long-term solutions.”
Even the estate’s famous pools are filled by the spring-fed system, though on separate circuits. Renovations in 2017 ensure they can operate efficiently without upsetting the delicate balance of the gravity-fed network.
“We’re trying to be as efficient as possible, whether it’s a drought year or not,” Falat said.
Visitors may find the low-tech toilet solution jarring, but it reflects the realities of managing a landmark where historic preservation, environmental stewardship, and modern infrastructure needs intersect.
“We hear complaints about restrooms every day,” Falat admitted. “We understand the frustration and appreciate the public’s patience. My hope is that we can reopen permanent restrooms within the next year, but we have to make sure it’s done correctly and sustainably.” ∆
Reach Staff Writer Chloë Hodge at chodge@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in March 26 – April 2, 2026.
More infrastructure crumbling before our eyes. It will get worse.