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Visiting Nitt Witt Ridge in Cambria, California
Rate it! Votes (4) | Comments (0) By Mitch Mandell Photos: Mitch Mandell Posted August 6th, 2007

CAMBRIA, CALIFORNIA, USA -- The crazy old guy who lives up the street -- every town has one and Cambria is no exception. A charming little town half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco on the Pacific Coast, Cambria was home to Art Beal, a man who would stand on the roof of his self made home in nothing but his blue robe while shaking his fist and yelling at anyone who dared to gawk at his masterpiece of folk art.

To say that Art was crazy may be a little harsh, however no one will deny he was more than a little eccentric. The proof can be seen in the home he built in the Cambria hills called Nitt Witt Ridge. I'm not sure exactly how it got the name because Art was no Nitt Witt. Any man that can build a home from scratch using anything he could beg, borrow or, well?.borrow for a long time... has to have a brain or two.

Using a pick ax and a shovel Art carved out a 2.5-acre hillside to create an intricate network of terraced gardens, stone arches and walkways. Throughout the property Art constructed buildings using only materials he could scavenge. Old tires, broken down cars, glass bottles, abalone shells, and scrap metal are just a few of the building materials Art worked with.

Dubbed the "Poor Mans Hearst Castle" by locals, Art was able to obtain some of his building supplies from construction cast offs from the more famous, "rich man's castle."

Ever the independent soul, Art says he built his fantasy home with his only two helpers "Mother Earth and Dame Nature."

After working on his project for a 51-year period, Art was forced to leave the home in 1989. It remained vacant until late 1996. That's when Michael and Stacy O'Malley stepped in to restore this great the home to its original state. Being vacant for nearly a decade, the O'Malley's had their work cut out for them as time had taken its toll. Today Nitt Witt Ridge, like its great cousin Hearst Castle, is a state historical landmark. Tours of Art's incredible work of domestic folk art are enthusiastically led by Michael O'Malley, who's passion for the home and its history, along with his own eccentric style, will make you think he's channeling a little bit of Art Beal himself.

Tours of Nitt Witt Ridge are available by reservation only, call 805-927-2690.

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