PRESTON CASTLE

Near the gold rush town of Ione, about 30 miles from Sacramento, is a long ago abandoned building known as Preston Castle. The castle, part of a reform school for boys built in 1894, has been slated for demolition several times but always managed to escape the wrecking ball. The once beautiful building is in dire need of a major restoration. 

A volunteer organization gives tours for a few hours on the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month. Lou & I made the short one hour drive this morning to explore the castle. It is said to be haunted & ghost hunters have filmed TV shows there. An overnight paranormal tour is also offered.

Preston Castle is an imposing structure that dominates the surrounding skyline.

Just a few of the rooms have been somewhat restored so far. Most of the building is in terrible condition. I can hardly imagine what a daunting job it will be to get the castle back to any semblance of its former self.

The staff dining room.

The infirmary where surgeries were even performed - yikes!

A staff apartment - they could choose either a fireplace or a toilet. Most chose the fireplace since it was freezing in winter & the toilet was just down the hall.

Most of the rooms are in this condition.

A large basement room where fund raising events are held.

I liked this rather unique use for a kitchen fork.

The fire escape - a spiral slide is in this cylinder & was accessible from the rooms to escape.

Some famous "residents" of the reform school include actors Rory Calhoun & Eddie Anderson (Rochester on the Jack Benny Show), tennis pro Pancho Gonzalez & country singer Merle Haggard, who said he will never set foot in Preston Castle again. It was a horrible existence for most of the wards as they were called.

After our tour we wandered around the small towns of Ione, Sutter Creek & Amador City. It seems that each of these small towns have several antique stores along with restaurants & the obligatory old hotel.

Downtown Ione, California.

The main street of Sutter Creek.

The Imperial Hotel in Amador City.

The overcast skies finally started to break up on our drive back home. Springtime is beautiful in the foothills with the green grass & trees getting their leaves. We had to pull off the road a few times to capture the gorgeous scenery on film.