Since 1865, the Hearst family has raised cattle on 150,000
acres of rich sustainable native grasslands on California’s Central Coast.
At the Hearst Ranches it’s always been our practice to treat the animals
with great care. Our cattle live a completely natural existence as
foragers and grazers. Grazing enhances a complex and balanced mosaic of
native grasslands, which in turn maintains the vigor and distribution of
these habitats, ensuring a sustainable food system. Well-managed grazing is one of the primary reasons for the excellent condition of the coastal prairie and native grasslands along the inland terraces. It keeps cattle on the range, fertilizes the land naturally, sustains a seasonal rhythm to the ranches and produces a remarkable meat whose flavor is the authentic taste of the American West.
At the Hearst Ranches it’s always been our practice to treat the animals
with great care. Our cattle live a completely natural existence as
foragers and grazers. Grazing enhances a complex and balanced mosaic of
native grasslands, which in turn maintains the vigor and distribution of
these habitats, ensuring a sustainable food system.
Well-managed grazing is one of the primary reasons for the excellent condition of the coastal prairie and native grasslands along the inland terraces. It keeps cattle on the range, fertilizes the land naturally, sustains a seasonal rhythm to the ranches and produces a remarkable meat whose flavor is the authentic taste of the American West.
Hearst Ranch Beef is our signature product – 100% grass-fed and
completely hormone-and-antibiotic free – produced since 1865 on the
Hearst Ranches. Our cattle are always free-ranging and all-natural,
raised on native rangeland and pastures on our two California Central
Coast properties – the 83,000-acre Hearst Ranch in San Simeon and the
73,000-acre Jack Ranch in Cholame.
Central Coast
Land and Legacy
Over 150 years and 150,000 acres of rich, sustainable grasslands on California's Central Coast.
Piedra Blanca - The San Simeon Ranch
Purchased by George Hearst in 1865, the Piedra Blanca Rancho spans over 83,000 acres of land, and is home to La Cuesta Encantada, known today as Hearst Castle.
Acquired by Hearst Corporation in 1965, the Jack Ranch, named to honor the Jack family, has a rich and storied history dating back to 1869. The Jack Ranch now spans 73,000 acres and is home to a well-managed, free-range 2,500-head cowherd that integrates seamlessly with San Simeon's 1,000-head cowherd.
Foreword by Stephen T. Hearst Text by Victoria Kastner
Hearst Ranch: Family, Land and Legacy offers an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the vast and stunningly beautiful cattle ranch that surrounds Hearst Castle. It also explores the Hearst family's private residences on the ranch for the first time, and features dramatic scenes of the Hearst cowboys in action today.
