The Hearst family retains ownership of the majority of the wider estate of 82,000 acres (332 km²) and, under a land conservation agreement reached in 2005, has worked with the California State Parks Department and American Land Conservancy to preserve the undeveloped character of the area; the setting for the castle ...

The most famous "castle" in California, Hearst Castle (La Cuesta Encantada), is owned by the State of California. Originally the private residence of publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst, the estate and its vast art collection were gifted to the state by the Hearst family in 1958. It is now operated as a California State Park and a National Historic Landmark, open to the public for guided tours. However, it is important to note that the Hearst Corporation still owns the surrounding 82,000-acre ranch and several other properties in the area. Other "castles" in California have different owners; for example, Castello di Amorosa in Napa Valley is a privately owned winery built by Dario Sattui, and the "Magic Castle" in Hollywood is owned by the Academy of Magical Arts. For most visitors, "the" California castle refers to Hearst's San Simeon masterpiece, preserved for posterity as a public treasure under the stewardship of the state's park system.