Preston Castle
Preston Castle
4.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.5
57 reviews
Excellent
37
Very good
14
Average
3
Poor
3
Terrible
0
ElvisFann
Stockton, CA69 contributions
Jul 2021
Preston Castle is a great place to visit. I love history and haunted places, so this didn't disappoint. There were a couple of rooms where I felt "energy". I can't imagine how creepy this place must be on Halloween. Took some amazing pictures here. The staff was friendly and made you feel that you can ask as many questions as you want. They offered us water with it being such a hot day. I can see why some movies and tv shows have been filmed here. Not sure if it would be a good place to bring little ones. I think it's best for teenagers and up.
Written August 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Desiree P
Sacramento, CA40 contributions
Oct 2018 • Friends
A group of us attended the 2018 Preston Castle Haunt and had a great time. We bought VIP tickets which I’d recommend if you’re impatient and have the money. We got there at around 8:30pm and there was definitely a line but it moved quickly. With VIP tickets, we waited about 35 minute to enter the castle. The castle is really creepy, but it’s a beautiful building. I found myself wanting to spend more time looking around the castle at the architectural features, but was moved along at a pretty swift pace by people running the haunted house. The haunted house was very spooky but I never actually got scared during the walk-through.
FYI – The walk-through does involve going up and down two flights of stairs. There’s food booths outside the Castle.
FYI – The walk-through does involve going up and down two flights of stairs. There’s food booths outside the Castle.
Written October 17, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SAS8721
California City, CA139 contributions
Oct 2014 • Solo
Preston Castle is near Sacramento close to highway 49 on the way south to Amador City and Sutter Creek in the town of Ione. In 1890, the wise people of the California State Correction System decided it was not a good idea to house teenagers with adult convicts. Preston Castle was then built to rehabilitate these youthful offenders. It is a beautiful property with the main “castle” and a number of surrounding dorm and training building. The building is very much in need of money to repair damage done by architectural scavengers and vandals but despite the disrepair, I found it very interesting. They have docent guided tours spring thru fall only on a few days of the month. No tours in the winter. I have also been there for their haunted house on Halloween which was quite spooky. You can see their tour schedule and buy tickets on-line at their website. http://www.prestoncastle.com/
Written December 30, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
annmarief1313
11 contributions
Oct 2024 • Family
Went for the first time on Sunday night, got the VIP tickets. Got there right when it opened. No VIP parking. We had to park far away and wait for a shuttle. We had to wait for 6 rounds of shuttles and when we got on, it only took us like 2 blocks! So still a long way to walk after the shuttle. Waited in line to show our tickets and then waited in line for security. No VIP lines for either of those. So after about 40 mins we finally got to the point in where we could get in line. The VIP line was as long as the regular line, so yeah, not worth it!
Finally got into the haunt and was disappointed to see the ”actors” were children. The first two were definitely under 8 years old and most appeared to be middle schoolers.
The haunt itself was long and very open, so you could stay far away from the scares and actors.
Cool setting but not scary in our opinion and definitely not worth $150 for the 3of us.
Heartstoppers and Sacramento Screampark both offer 4 haunts for the same price $35 (non VIP) that are much more intense haunt experiences.
Finally got into the haunt and was disappointed to see the ”actors” were children. The first two were definitely under 8 years old and most appeared to be middle schoolers.
The haunt itself was long and very open, so you could stay far away from the scares and actors.
Cool setting but not scary in our opinion and definitely not worth $150 for the 3of us.
Heartstoppers and Sacramento Screampark both offer 4 haunts for the same price $35 (non VIP) that are much more intense haunt experiences.
Written October 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NorCalWillS
Gridley, CA94 contributions
May 2017 • Couples
We had read several items about the Preston Castle over the years, and we were hoping for a great adventure. BIG Mistake... They may have better "Guides" than who we had. She either knew very little, or just didn't find it necessary to share information. We had to ask specific questions (that we already knew the answers for) to get her to open up. The site is in great need of work, and people that might have a hard time getting around wouldn't be able to join the tour.
The Ione area is nice place to explore, and has several nice places to eat and drink.
The Ione area is nice place to explore, and has several nice places to eat and drink.
Written April 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jmomiller
Sacramento, CA105 contributions
Jun 2014 • Friends
My mother and I were in from out of town and really wanted to tour the Castle. We had read about it and thought it would be an interesting experience. When we got into Ione we kept seeing signs saying the Castle was open for tours. Sadly much to our surprise when we pulled up into the gates of Preston Castle we were greeted by a tour guide telling us the county had shut down their tours. We could only do an outside walking tour.
We were allowed to go up to the Castle and look through the windows but currently as of June 15th the Castle cannot be toured from the inside.
We were allowed to go up to the Castle and look through the windows but currently as of June 15th the Castle cannot be toured from the inside.
Written June 18, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Salaamus
Turlock, CA186 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
First time visit beautiful to take pictures in front of Castle. It was
$50.00 for 2 adult and 2 children.
It was to high for only 45 minutes
and we did not have a tour guy because we did not make reservations. I seen it and will not plan to go back.
$50.00 for 2 adult and 2 children.
It was to high for only 45 minutes
and we did not have a tour guy because we did not make reservations. I seen it and will not plan to go back.
Written July 1, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Larry G
3 contributions
Feb 2018 • Couples
Saw a tv show about it. Absolutely
Gorgeous drive from Grass Valley.
Castle is beautiful, but was closed when we arrived. A dosen was there and let us drive in to take pictures. Lovely-we will return when
it is open.
Gorgeous drive from Grass Valley.
Castle is beautiful, but was closed when we arrived. A dosen was there and let us drive in to take pictures. Lovely-we will return when
it is open.
Written February 19, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Flynnfan
Roseville, CA33 contributions
Oct 2017 • Family
Aside from the fact that Preston School of Industry (which is old corrections code for "prison") is an amazing piece of architecture, it also happens to be the best Haunted House around!!! Preston Castle started as a prison for juvenile's. Merle Haggard even spent some time there. The prison was closed and sat in disrepair for years. The hauntings associated with the Castle are easy to find as just about EVERY major paranormal TV show has frequented the building. There were a couple of murders on the grounds of the Castle and one of them was VERY grisly and unsolved. So there is a good basis for the stories of ghosts. This makes a visit at Halloween even more exciting!! The Castle puts on a haunted house that is far better than any of the pre-packaged haunts that you can see in your local hometown. It's creepy enough knowing there were murders there, but the condition of the Castle and the eerieness surrounding the buildings makes it even more atmospheric. The tours are reasonably priced and well choreographed.
This is a fantastic piece of California history that is worth a visit even if you are not going during Halloween season. Be sure to stop and ask questions of the docents. Some of them worked at the Castle while it was still a prison and have a wealth of information that would otherwise be overlooked.
This is a fantastic piece of California history that is worth a visit even if you are not going during Halloween season. Be sure to stop and ask questions of the docents. Some of them worked at the Castle while it was still a prison and have a wealth of information that would otherwise be overlooked.
Written October 11, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
myriam l
Sacramento, CA22 contributions
Jul 2016 • Friends
It guided tours only of the inside of the castle. The cost is $15 per person. There is so much history, that it takes about 1-1 1/2 hours to cover the area that is open. A lot of the castle is unavailable, due to structure damage, but that's where price of the tours helps with the restoration of the castle. The tours are done by volunteer docents that are very knowledgeable. It's an easy tour, just some stairs to 2nd and basement floors. I recommend bringing a picnic and beverages, there isn't any food sold at the castle and the nearest small town doesn't offer much. You can take bottle water with you on the tour and I strongly recommend it. The area is hot, not only for ghosts, but weather wise too. There is very little shade on the castle grounds, so bring sunscreen. Did I mention the castle is haunted? Well, it is. There were several ghost shows filmed here. September, they host a wine tasting featuring Amador County wineries. They also do a haunted house in October!
Written July 23, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is the castle open for tours right now? Or for this weekend coming up before MLK Day? Thanks! :)
Written January 12, 2021
gamador212
Los Angeles, California
when did the castle start being built ? and when was it finished ?
Written May 14, 2018
The original building was built in 1890 and occupied in 1894. It was abandoned in 1960.
Written September 22, 2019
gamador212
Los Angeles, California
what year did the castle start being built and when was it completed /
Written May 14, 2018
Can a person buy tickets ahead of time for a tour on December 12?
Written November 11, 2015
Sharon L
Sacramento, California
What is the castle's address? How should I dress for the tour July 11?
Written July 9, 2015
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