Shawn Harris Hearst Castle Guide

On December 9, 2016, just before 11:30 am, my daughter Kelly and I were pulling into the parking lot at the Hearst Castle on the California coast.

We were in California for a week of vacation, visiting my older daughter and her husband and going to an epic Christmas open house down in Montrose, California.

It was a foggy day and the drive down from Morgan Hill, California offered scant views of the mighty Pacific ocean. When we did see the water and surf, it was dismal gray.

However it wasn't so foggy as to block the view of the ginormous elephant seals just north of our destination.

The elephant seals were sleeping, well some were. I'd hate to have one of these lay on me! (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

A volunteer at the elephant seal viewing area obtained this vanity license plate. She has the same passion about seals that Shawn has for his job. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter

I had been there before but it was Kelly's first time. Unbeknownst to us, we were to about to hit the lottery when it comes to tour guides.

In just ninety minutes we were going to be paired up with Shawn Harris to tour the expansive cottages and the kitchen of the Castle.

The fog got worse as the tour progressed. If you've never been to the Hearst Castle, put it at the top of your bucket list. It will take your breath away. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter - Image published in order to raise awareness of Hearst Castle and to encourage you to visit to help preserve this national treasure.

I've been led on lots of guided tours at many historic locations, but never have I been captivated as I was by Shawn's stories, quotes and facts about William Randolph Hearst and his family.

It's said that if you practice something enough you get pretty good at it.  I'll add that it helps to have a passion for the thing as well. Your experience on the tour is off the charts should you have Shawn as your guide.

Think back to what you were doing in 1979. Shawn was just arriving at San Simeon and the Hearst Castle to start his first day of work at this national treasure. I'll do the math for you. It was thirty-seven years ago. 

See that smile on Shawn's face? It's not a fake one. This is a man that was destined to be a tour guide at the Hearst Castle. (C) Copyright 2016 Kelly Carter

I'd never met Shawn before. I'm not related to him and I'm only writing this because I feel his family and friends need to know about his love for the Castle and all things in it. You could feel that while he sprinkled tasty morsels of little-known facts about the construction and back story of the Castle.

How strong is his passion for the Castle? What if I told you that he still visits the library within the Castle to glean facts from books and other resources. I'm quite sure Shawn is hunting for facts, figures and little-known facts that he can use to mesmerize you when you follow him around the grounds.

Can you imagine what it takes to create a ceiling like this? Are there master craftsmen alive today that can do it? You can see Shawn answering a question from one of the other visitors. (C) Copyright 2016 Tim Carter - Image published in order to raise awareness of Hearst Castle and to encourage you to visit to help preserve this national treasure.

If you're going to visit the Hearst Castle, I urge you to try to see about arranging to meet Shawn. See if you can't make it that he's your guide. Perhaps see if you can get a special VIP tour with just you and your friends. Better yet, see if you can have dinner with Shawn down in Cambria and have him tell you some tales over a glass of wine.

Shawn, bravo my friend! Mr. Hearst would be so proud of you and what you do each day at the Castle.

CLICK HERE to get more information and to purchase tickets to visit the Hearst Castle.