Preston Castle

The Preston School of Industry, also known as Preston Castle, is one of the oldest and best-known reform schools in the United States. It is located in Ione, California, in Amador County.

The institution was opened in June 1894 when seven wards (minors under the guardianship of the state, but not necessarily juvenile offenders), were transferred there from San Quentin State Prison. The original building, known colloquially as "Preston Castle" (or simply "The Castle"), is the most significant example of Romanesque Revival architecture in the Mother Lode. It was vacated in 1960, shortly after new buildings had been constructed to replace it. The abandoned building has since been named a California Historical Landmark (#867) and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NPS-75000422).

The facility's name has often been used in movies and also television programs, such as Dragnet. In 1999, the institution's official name was changed to the "Preston Youth Correctional Facility", but most people in the state — especially those who reside in the immediate area — continue to refer to it by its original name.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation announced on October 21, 2010, that the Preston Youth Correctional Facility will be closing.[2] On June 2, 2011, Preston held its official closing ceremony. Former staff, correctional officers, correctional counselors, and the public were invited to celebrate Preston's last day open as a correctional facility.[citation needed]

The building is open to tours for the public and it is maintained by the Preston Castle Foundation.