Rubel Castle Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Rubel Castle Historic District
U.S. National Register of Historic Places


Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area Location in California Show map of California Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	844 N. Live Oak Ave., Glendora, California
Built	1959 to 1986
Architectural style	Folk art environment
NRHP reference No.	13000810
Added to NRHP	October 7, 2013

Rubel Castle, also known as Rubelia, is a truly unique building in Glendora, California. It was created by Michael Clarke Rubel and is now cared for by the Glendora Historical Society.

Michael bought a 1.7-acre citrus orchard in 1959. He and his friends built the castle there, finishing it in 1986. The castle is made from concrete and many unusual items. These include scrap metal, rocks, old bedsprings, coat hangers, and bottles. Michael found these materials in his neighborhood as old farms were replaced by new houses. You might even see chickens and other animals roaming around the castle grounds!

The Story Behind Rubel Castle
How the Castle Was Built
Rubel Castle's Lasting Impact
Gallery
See also

The Story Behind Rubel Castle

Michael Rubel on his porch, 2000.

In 1959, Michael Rubel bought an old property called Albourne Rancho. He moved into the building that used to be a citrus fruit packing house. Michael's father was an Episcopal priest. His mother, Dorothy Deuel Rubel, was a Broadway actress.

In the 1960s, Michael's mother moved into the packing house with him. She loved to host parties there. Hundreds of guests would arrive weekly at the packing house. It had been turned into a huge dance hall. People would dance to a small orchestra, surrounded by art and old furniture. Because of these fun parties, the packing house became known as "The Tin Palace."

Many famous people visited "The Tin Palace." These included dancer Sally Rand, former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, and film director Alfred Hitchcock.

How the Castle Was Built

Michael Rubel slept in a giant citrus refrigerator. But the thick cork walls were not enough to block out the noise from his mother's parties. So, in 1968, Michael started building a small getaway house. He built it inside an empty concrete water tank that could hold 2 million gallons. He used cement and discarded champagne bottles. The walls of the tank gave him privacy and blocked the noise. This project lasted for 20 years. It eventually became what we now call Rubel Castle.

After 1968, the castle grew much larger. Michael, with help from friends and family, built it to be thousands of square feet. It has towers that are five stories high! They built the castle without detailed architectural plans. They used salvaged river rock, cement, steel, aluminum, telephone poles, and wine bottles. You can even spot old motorcycles, tires, sand-filled rubber gloves, a camera, a golf club, and a toaster sticking out of the castle walls!

One of the tall towers is about 74 feet (23 meters) high. It has a restored 1911 Seth Thomas clock. This clock runs the brass bells and clock at the top. In the middle of the property, you can see a 1940s Santa Fe caboose. There are also old trucks and tractors. The castle even has a cemetery with old marble tombstones, but no one is actually buried there.

Rubel Castle's Lasting Impact

The castle has welcomed important visitors, including Prince Philip. Other notable guests have been former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Henry Kissinger, and the Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie.

In March 2005, Michael Rubel gave the castle to the Glendora Historical Society. This means they now own and take care of it.

Many TV shows, music videos, and movies have been filmed at Rubel Castle. These include NBC's Heroes, Our Flag Means Death, and a T-Mobile commercial.

Rubel Castle was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013. This means it is recognized as an important historical place.