Preston Castle
This castle-like reform school has been closed for years, but some ghostly wards may have never left
Paranormal Activity at
Preston Castle
- The apparition of a murder victim has been seen
- Disembodied voices and moans have been heard
- Eerie feelings and sensations of not being alone have been noted
- Shadow figures, looking like young wards, have been seen
- Visitors report being touched by unseen forces
- Disembodied footsteps have been heard throughout the building
- Shadowy figures have been captured on photos and videos
- Unexplained moving mists have been seen
Reform & Punishment:
Preston Castle’s Past
Take a scenic drive down Preston Avenue in Ione, California, and you might spot something strangely medieval off in the distance. Sticking out amongst the northern California palm trees is the bright red steeple of Preston Castle.
Along with being Preston Avenue’s namesake, the true California castle is steeped in history. Preston Castle spent generations as the Preston School of Industry, a reform school for juvenile criminals and wards of the state.
Though it’s been years since Preston Castle has been active, tales of ghostly wards and phantom murder victims swirl around the structure.
It is often noted as one of northern California’s most haunted places. And what’s a castle without a few ghosts?
Timeline of Preston Castle's History
Swipe or use timeline points to see Preston Castle through the years
1890
In the latter half of the 1800s, gold rushes and promises of fortune brought throngs of settlers to California. The state moved fast to meet expanding demands. A gush of new people meant new homes, new townships, and of course, new jails. And as local lock-ups and state prisons sprouted up, a different kind of need materialized. Along with full-fledged prisons, California needed places for young offenders and other wards of the state. Supporting this goal, construction work began on the Preston School of Industry in 1890.
1894
The Preston School of Industry, or Preston Castle, greeted its first wards in 1894. The castle quickly became home to dozens of juvenile criminals, as well as orphans and runaways. The facility, as a reform school, sought to rehabilitate and educate the wards. But, life and work around Preston Castle was often perilous. Dangers from contagious disease, as well as inmate violence, were constant concerns. Even Preston Castle workers were not spared. In 1950 one castle worker, Anna Corbin, was murdered in the basement by a still-unknown assailant.
1955
By the 1950s, Preston Castle had become expensive to maintain. In 1955, the facility moved the last of the wards out of the old castle. The big red building stayed in partial use as offices until 1960, when Preston administrators abandoned the castle for good. Decades of emptiness went by for the old building, with vandals and thieves stripping the historic structure bare. But, in 2001, Preston Castle got a new lease on life, literally. That year, the Preston Castle Foundation secured a lease on the property, starting restoration.
2014
In 2014, the Preston Castle Foundation received full ownership of the castle property. This fulfilled their goal of ensuring long-term preservation. In recent years, Preston Castle has been structurally rehabbed. It has even had a few rooms redecorated with historic artifacts. The castle’s progress today is powered by tours, many of them focusing on the paranormal. Preston Castle has become a paranormal hotbed in recent years, drawing attention from far-and-wide. But do phantom wards and spiritual workers really still linger the castle’s corridors?
Is Preston Castle Haunted?
One famous Preston Castle ghost is the specter of murder victim, Anna Corbin. Visitors and workers alike have reported encounters with Corbin’s shadowy apparition. While she is known for meandering through the entire building, Anna Corbin’s apparition is known to have a few favorite hotspots.
Her presence is often noted around the basement area where her body was found. Along with that, both her figure and a strange sensation of her presence have been reported around her old on-site apartment. And she’s not the only ghostly figure you might see on a visit to Preston Castle.
The Castle’s Ghostly Figures
Along with Anna Corbin, other unknown shadow figures have been seen wandering through the former reform school. Many of these apparitions appear with few distinct features, making it difficult to identify them. But, based on their heights and sizes, many witnesses suggest these figures are the listless ghosts of former Preston Castle wards. It’s as though they are still serving time long after their sentences have ended.
Aside from the shadow figures, Preston Castle is also known for strange, moving mists. The mists never seem to take a human form. However, they often move from room-to-room like the other castle figures.
Get A Paranormal Poke at Preston
More than just seeing something spooky, the phantoms of Preston Castle may reach out and touch you during your visit. Some people have claimed to feel light brushes by them in the halls, like an invisible worker is trying to sneak by them. Others still have reported hard, purposeful pokes from unseen hands. Perhaps a ward just playing a prank on them?
Along with phantom touches, Preston Castle is well-known for its intense feelings. While Anna Corbin’s presence is often said to come with a sensation of not being alone, that’s not the only odd feeling you might encounter. Some visitors report sudden and unexplainable washes of strong emotion, like sadness or anger.
Spooky Voices & Phantom Footsteps
Preston Castle is also a place where ghosts might call out to you through the darkness. Ghostly voices and other unexplainable sounds have become common reports at the castle today. Distant voices may be heard echoing through the halls, while in other areas phantom moans may break through the calm.
Disembodied footsteps are also frequently heard throughout the empty castle at night. Interestingly, one spirit who you might not hear from is Anna Corbin. While she is well-known as an apparition, her ghost isn’t known to be talkative, and her specter hasn’t given up the name of her killers…yet.
Ghost Hunts at Preston Castle
In response to the long-standing ghost stories, countless ghost hunters have visited the castle. Public paranormal investigation-style tours are often held at Preston Castle.
Visiting ghost hunters often leave Preston Castle with potential EVPs of some of the unexplained sounds. Additionally, some investigators have claimed to capture some of Preston Castle’s shadow figures in photos and videos.
Preston Castle: Eerie Event Venue
Today, Preston Castle is alive with activity. The Foundation maintains a running list of tours, events, and other programs. Their aim is to keep the community engaged with Preston Castle’s history and story. And all the proceeds go towards funding the castle’s slow-but-steady restoration work.
Through the Foundation’s work, Preston Castle hosts Christmas events, craft fairs, photography tours, and even a yearly haunted house around Halloween.
Paranormal and flashlight tours remain some of the castle’s most popular, and often sold out, events. Ghost hunters come to Preston Castle from all over the country for a chance to tour the building and investigate its haunted claims.
And, as more ghost hunters visit, even more ghost stories and claims come out about the old reform school. So though Preston Castle is no longer home to wards of the state, they don’t seem to have much luck warding off the ghosts.
