The Neptune Pool is the name of the outdoor swimming pool ensemble at Hearst Castle, in San Simeon, California. Featuring the significant swimming pool, it also includes: fountains, ornamental pools, sculptures, marble pavilions, alabaster lanterns, dressing rooms, and an ancient temple facade (mainly reconstructed).The Neptune Terrace, including its huge pool shell, are raised up behind massive retaining walls on the Hearst Castle ridge-line in the Santa Lucia Mountains. It is to the north and lower than the main Casa Grande and the guest house terrace, with vistas of the ranch, Point San Simeon coastline, and Pacific Ocean.In 2014, the pool was drained due to severe drought conditions in Southern California. The pool had been leaking and evaporating of water per day.DesignHistoryDesigned by architect Julia Morgan, the Neptune Pool with terrace elements was started in 1924. Albert Solon and Frank Schemmel of Solon and Schemmel Tile Company came to Hearst Castle to perform the tile work. The Neptune Pool was built and rebuilt three times, each version a larger size. After the 1926 and 1934 redesigns and re-buildings, it was finally deemed completed by William Randolph Hearst in 1936.ScaleThe Neptune Pool is 58ft wide except for the 95ft width at the primary axis fountain—alcove section, and the secondary axis pool length is 104ft. The depth varies from 3.5ft at the west 'shallow' end, to 10ft at pools' main drains.
