Entry No. 4 — the Sacramento file — filed under: reform school

Preston Castle

Built in 1894 to look like a school rather than a prison, this Romanesque pile once held 800 boys at a time as California's reform school for juvenile offenders — Merle Haggard and Eldridge Cleaver both did time here — before it closed and sat half-collapsed for decades. Ghost Adventures and Ghost Hunters have both filmed inside, and the nonprofit that now owns the building runs actual overnight paranormal investigations through its empty dormitory wings.

The move: Take the sunset flashlight tour through the abandoned wards, then book a public paranormal investigation (18+) with EMF meters in the old infirmary.

• 📍 Ione, Amador County
• 💸 $$
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: 900 Palm Drive, Ione, CA 95640

Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.

⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: Official site · Wikipedia

last checked: 2026-07-20