It was designed for William Randolph Hearst by his longtime architect Julia Morgan. Built in 1930, a year after the original Milpitas Ranch House burned down, the Hacienda served as a place for Hearst to take his Hollywood friends hunting while they visited him at nearby Hearst Castle in San Simeon. Today, the Hacienda is open to the public. A brief visit showed the accommodations to be quaint. There's a restaurant here, too, that serves burgers and steaks and chicken.
Prices are moderate.
A base spokeswoman said about 200,000 people visit Fort Hunter Liggett annually. Many are here to see the mission, but some are school groups and others are hunters. The base is hoping to increase its use as a conference center, too, she said. One more landmark is the Tin Barn, which now houses the base fire department. It was constructed for the 1915 Pan-Pacific Exposition in San Francisco.