Saturday, April 4, 2015 10 am to 1 pm
IONE, CA: Mark your calendar for April 4, the opening day of the Preston Castle Foundation’s 2015 Tour Season. The majestic Preston Castle will be open for guided historical tours most Saturdays, from 10 am to 1 pm, April 4 through September 26. There are also plans to be open on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays, during June, July, and August. Tours are $10 for adults, $5 for children under 12 years of age, and free for children less than 5 years of age. Visit the website for more information and the specific dates that tours will be held.
Last year, the tour season was cut short due to restrictions imposed by the State Fire Marshal, so many people missed out on being able to explore and learn about the Preston Castle. Now that the Preston Castle Foundation owns the property, the Castle can once again be opened to the public. So plan a visit to Ione and enjoy a tour of the Castle, including a visit to the Farm Museum.
Castle Tour: $10; $5 under 12, free if under 5 Visit www.prestoncastle.com.
WHAT: PRICE: WHO: WHERE:
WHEN:
Preston Castle Tours $10, $5 under 12, free under 5 Sponsored by Preston Castle Foundation Preston Castle, 900 (end of) Palm Dr., Ione, CA 35 miles southeast of Sacramento, CA off HWY 104 in Ione Saturdays, April 4 through Sept. 26, 2nd and 4th Thursdays in summer (June, July, August), 10 am to 1 pmAbout Preston Castle Foundation
The strikingly beautiful Romanesque style Preston Castle, on a hill in Ione, was actually the administration building for the Preston School of Industry, the first major attempt in California at rehabilitating, instead of just imprisoning, young offenders. Opened in 1894, the Preston School of Industry became a leader in the juvenile prison reform movement by giving convicted boys a real chance at life by educating them not only in academics, but in all of the useful trades of the time. Closed in 1960, when the Preston Youth Authority moved into a new administration building down the hill, the Preston Castle was left to deteriorate due to weather, vandalism, and general neglect. It now serves as a vacant, but vitally important landmark for Ione, Amador County, and the Motherlode. It is a California State Historic Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Mission of the Preston Castle Foundation is to preserve, rehabilitate, and utilize the historic Preston Castle site. The Foundation recently acquired the deed of ownership for the property and is pushing forward with the rehabilitation activities. To help raise money for this important project, the Foundation sponsors several fund raising events throughout the year. The first event for 2015 is the 10th annual Preston Castle Golf Classic, on May 14, at Castle Oaks Golf Course.
Castle Tours are available on Saturdays, and select Thursdays, from 10 am to 1 pm, during the warmer weather months. Check the website for specific dates. Helpand learn more about the history, events, and tours by visiting www.prestoncastle.com. All contributions are tax deductible.
