Thursday, April 11, 2013

Our Ghost Adventure at Preston Castle


Let me just say first off that I don’t believe in ghosts. However, my best friend, Shelbi, is a huge fan of Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters, etc., and I have to admit, I love to watch the shows too.

The guys from Ghost Adventures (see episode here) and Ghost Hunters (see episode here) happened to investigate a place called Preston Castle, which was originally called the Preston School of Industry that opened in 1894. You can read more about the history of the school here. They took in male juvenile delinquents and orphans. Preston certainly saw its share of violence, including the brutal murders of the head housekeeper, Anna Corbin, and one of the male teachers. Several of the boys also died under suspicious circumstances, and one young man was shot trying to escape.



Preston Castle has been closed since 1994, and has been a very popular spot with paranormal investigators. It is now a California State Landmark and is undergoing repairs to the extensive damage inside the building.


Since it's within driving distance of us, Shelbi talked me and our friend Angel into going on one of the tours (they also offer and overnight ghost tour). I decided to humor her and go along for fun.



I brought my digital camera to take pictures of our tour. Oddly enough, orbs started showing up in some of the shots. The only other time an orb has appeared in one of my camera shots is when Shelbi dragged me on a ghost tour in San Francisco, and I took a picture inside a hotel that was reportedly haunted. So, that’s a little strange. Here are some of the pictures I took at Preston Castle.

There was nothing in the initial pictures I took, but at one point in the tour, we were in one of the typical employee rooms, when I took a pic and noticed an orb over the tour guide's head. From then on, I got some really weird pics.

Here is the kitchen. Through that door is the storage space where they found Anna Corbin's body in. She had been strangled and bludgeoned beyond recognition. There were three orbs in this shot.

Here are some various pics I took while we were on the tour.
Poor unsuspecting people.

I took this picture because I loved the woodwork on these doors.

These two orbs appear to be playing musical chairs.

Spooky random stairway orbs.

An orb taking a bath.

Orbs hanging out in the basement that has been converted to a wine tasting/event room. Who can blame them?

And this pic, I like to call The Gates of Heeeeeeeeeeell 
using my best epic scary demon voice.

We also saw some of the X's placed by the 
Ghost Adventures guys for the show.


At Preston, they run some of the paranormal footage while people wait for the tours to start. They had a recording from the infirmary of the gurney below moving on its own.


Ghosts? I'm still not a believer. Shelbi is trying to talk me into getting some ghost hunting equipment and doing the overnight ghost tour. I'll let you know if we decide get that crazy.


17 comments:

  1. LOVED this tour!! Ghost hunting and the stories told of lives past are a fascinating thing!!! Who are we to say there isn't life after death or that some people are doomed to walk the earth in ghostly form as their version of Hell? I will get you on an overnight hunt one day!!! If not Preston Castle, then maybe the Flashlight Tour at Alcatraz!!!

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    1. Bwahahaha! If you want to do an overnight tour, we need to go spend the night at that haunted hotel in San Francisco, so I can at least get some sleep!

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  2. OMG! You crack me up. You should write a book "An Orb's Adventure." Taking a bath bwahahahaha! It is on the weird side though. I'm not a believer either but those pics are enough to have me wondering.

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    1. Thanks! I had fun with these pics. They are definitely on the weird side.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Geoff! It really turned out to be a lot more fun than I thought it would be.

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  4. I'm shocked you don't believe in ghosts. I've seen and felt them before. And before you tell me I'm full of *&%# - I wasn't alone when I saw them. The other person who was with me was able to hear and feel the ghost. They do exist.

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    1. That's awesome! I don't think you are full of *&%# at all. There are definitely things in this world I can't explain, and I certainly don't believe death is the end of us :)

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  5. Sooooo jealous. I believe in ghosts because I've had a few encounters with them and my mom saw one. Love this post <3 great pics!

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    1. Thanks Claire! If you get a chance to come out here to CA, I'd love to take you! :D

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  6. That is so cool!! I'm very envious you got to go there...and see the Ghost Adventures' Xs haha! Awesome!

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    1. I know Katie! I was so excited about the Ghost Adventure's Xs...LOL. Zak had been standing right there!! :D

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  7. Milpiats Girl here saw your post through my husbands twitter account @peterhobbs1. Loved the story, miss all that crazy Northern California stuff, will keep watching for more.

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  8. Hey Trina! Thanks for checking it out, and thanks to your wonderful hubby for sharing. It's definitely still crazy here...lol. :D Love your blog, by the way!

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  9. I don't know where I sit regarding ghosts, but seeing your pics I definitely have an open mind, but what a great time you had! I used to lead night tours through one of Australia's most haunted places - Port Arthur in Tasmania - when I worked as an archaeologist there. People said they used to feel the presence of ghosts, and some became truly terrified. Yet I worked there for a couple of months, yet sensed and felt nothing. Either it was my scientific archaeological training, or I have the physic sensitivity of a block of concrete!

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    1. Thanks Tima! We did have a lot of fun. Port Arthur sounds like an adventure! I'm afraid my psychic sensitivity is right up there with yours...LOL. I took these pictures, but didn't sense a thing :D

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  10. How depressing to think that after death might be a trap where all we can do is shine flashlights at tourists' cameras.
    Se la vi. Or rather se la after vi.

    Lovely write-up as ever. xoxo, Maureen

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