Neptune Pool restoration at Hearst Castle almost complete

Water is once again filling up the most famous pool on the Central Coast as restoration of the Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle nears completion.

The iconic tourist attraction is expected to re-open for public tours in two to three weeks.

The water began flowing for the first time through new pipes and filtration system and out onto new white and green tiles in the restored Neptune Pool at Hearst Castle.

The pool was drained in 2014 and two years later crews began removing the old tiles, filling in cracks in the concrete shell of the pool with expandable polyurethane foam.

The concrete shell was then sanded and resurfaced with a waterproof liner added.

Nearly 15,000 replica tiles from the original source were used to complete the $5.4 million restoration project.

“It’s been a long project”, said California State Parks Supervisor Dan Falat, “for some its just a pool, but this has significant historical value to it and being that it’s such an iconic location, we wanted to make sure we did it right and I think we’ve done that.”

Falat says it will take more than two days to fill the Neptune Pool that holds about 365,000 gallons of water.

The pool’s art-deco statues and pedestals were also restored or repaired.

Original construction of the Neptune Pool took 14 years to complete starting in 1924 and it remains a favorite of tourists who flock to Hearst Castle every year.

“The Neptune Pool is one of the most iconic features at Hearst Castle and one of the most photographed and most visited by all the visitors we have here every year”, Falat said.