Paranormal investigations Our creepiness rating 💀💀💀💀💀
The foundation sells after-dark paranormal investigations and says the castle has appeared on Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters and other shows. Source: Preston Castle Foundation. The Bee noted rumors that the castle is haunted. Source: Sacramento Bee.
Facts below are drawn from the linked sources.
Real history
The Preston School of Industry opened in 1894 as a reform school. Its Romanesque Revival main building, Preston Castle, was vacated in 1960 and is a California Historical Landmark (Wikipedia).
The Sacramento Bee reported that the castle sat abandoned and largely open to the elements for more than 40 years. The nonprofit Preston Castle Foundation bought it from the state for $1 in 2014, and tours reach only two of its five floors (Sacramento Bee, 2024).
Ghost stories
These are reported legends, not verified events. The creepiness score (1–5) is Spook Atlas's own editorial rating, not a measurement.
Then and now
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Public access
Tours only The Preston Castle Foundation runs seasonal tours; the building is in disrepair (Sacramento Bee, 2024). Last checked: Oct 31, 2026.
Explore more
- More places in Ione and California
- More haunted & abandoned prisons
- More haunted & abandoned civic buildings
- Nearby: Hotel Léger (Mokelumne Hill, CA), Delta King (Sacramento, CA), Malakoff Diggins (North Bloomfield, CA), Drawbridge (Fremont, CA)
⚠️ Please read: This information may be outdated and conditions change. Verify access with the owner or operator before you go. Spook Atlas does not encourage trespassing. Entering private, closed or condemned property can be illegal and dangerous. Report a correction.
Reader experiences
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