"Hearst's Hacienda and Mission San Antonio de Padua" Jolon by atufft

Jolon Travel Guide: 21 reviews and 94 photos

De Anza's Historic Route is Well Marked - Jolon

Mission San Antonio de Padua

Of any of the California missions, this mission retains much of the original setting. Most missions are surrounded by urban din, while the remote location of Mission San Antonio remains much as it was nearly 300 years ago. The road leading to the virtually absent town of Jolon runs mostly along the old El Camino Real, now a well aged ribbon highway several miles west of modern freeway 101. There are several other ruins in the area as well that date back to gold mining days when this was the route from the south to the northern gold fields. Originally, this route was used by Juan Bautista De Anza in the first colonizing efforts within northern California. De Anza's mission was to find a suitable supply route by land between Culiacan, Sonora, Mexico and the missions of California, which often waited years for supply by sea. Mission San Antonio de Padua was the third mission founded, after the missions at San Diego and Carmel, and remained an important stop between southern and northern California for many years.

Heart's Hacienda

Julia Morgan's Hearst Hacienda

Hearst's Castle, at San Simeon on the coast, and the Hacienda are intimately related. Hearst and friends frequently went on horseback, camping along the way, between the ranch at San Simeon and the Hacienda. Hearst money was important to restoration of the Mission, which was completely abandoned for almost 50 years, between 1882 and 1928. Julia Morgan's mission revival architectural design of the Hacienda is really quite magnificient and well worth visiting in it's own right.

Notes for visiting the mission and hacienda...

Hearst deeded over the rancho lands to the Army during World War II, and there remains today a military base there, Fort Hunter Liggett Military Reservation. In order to visit either mission or the hacienda, visitors must present a photo ID, such as a driver's license, vehicle registration, and proof of vehicle insurance. Don't come without these, or you can't get in. Nevertheless, the base is not a highly sensitive one, focusing mostly upon the testing of army land vehicles, and the security at the gate is both professional and friendly. At the time of our visit, the restaurnat at the Hacienda, now a hotel, was close "until further notice", and there were no places to eat at the mission. I recommend packing a picnic lunch for under the trees at the mission. On second weekend in June, there is an annual festival that includes a huge barbeque, music, dancing, and other festivities, which is open to the public. See my tips for more information...

Pros and Cons

Pros:The mission and hacienda provide a glimpse into early California
Cons:Jolon itself doesn't really exist, and so directions can be difficult
In a nutshell:This is a great off-the-beaten-path tour for those interested in California history.

Last visit to Jolon: Apr 2007
Intro Written Apr 14, 2007
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Reviews (9)

Hearst's Hacienda Hotel Things to Do (7)

Julia Morgan designed the Hacienda for Randolph Hearst to a mission revival style. The Hacienda served as the end stage... more travel advice

El Camino Real at Mission San Antonio de Padua - Jolon

El Camino Real as it Originally Appeared Off The Beaten Path (1)

I walked all around the grounds of the missions, of course, and found a section of the El Camino Real that appeared to... more travel advice

Logging and Wheat Production at the... Things to Do (7)

Nearby the mission are outdoor demonstration models of sorts that show how pine trees brought down from the Santa Lucia... more travel advice

Water Resource Engineering by the Padres Things to Do (7)

The mission padres and others document well the productive capacity of Mission San Antonio de Padua. Indeed, one of the... more travel advice

Hotels (1)
Stay in a Hearst Original!

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Comments (5)

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Ewingjr98 Jan 27, 2008 at 8:04 PM

Alan - we finally got to visit Mission San Antonio and the surrounding area... a trip I have been planning for a year or more. Your tips were a big help! Joe
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Gwynethart Dec 24, 2007 at 12:26 PM

Hey there! You have some fabulous photos and tips on this place! Thanks for the visit - I'm honored. :-))
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TheWanderingCamel Apr 17, 2007 at 2:10 AM

The Californian missions are a must see - I've seen them all over anumber of years - one day I plan to follow the trail in one hit. Nice page and details here Alan. leyle
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calcaf38 Apr 15, 2007 at 5:26 PM

Beautiful new pages, Alan. Glad to see you are sightseeing in your own state.
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Vulindlela Apr 15, 2007 at 5:25 PM

That Mission is one of the prettier ones in my opinion.