Phone: (858) 638-0672
33.013678, -116.955174
Dog-Friendly: Outside, yes Kid-Friendly: Yes
**Call in advance if you would like to tour the castle**
When one thinks of a 27-room castle with roots in the occult, Ramona, San Diego most likely doesn’t come to mind. And yet there it sits, the mysterious Mt. Woodson Castle.
The castle was completed in 1921 during the Craftsman Movement for the successful dressmaker, Amy Strong. Before moving to Ramona, Amy lived downtown, working and living at the Grant Building.
Amy would also spend a lot of her time at the Hotel Del Coronado, rubbing shoulders with much of the city’s social elite. She is said to have been actively involved in charity work and would also travel once a year to Europe to purchase dress material for her wealthy clients.
Building her home took 5 years and cost $50,000. There were many esteemed hands involved in the completion of her home which emphasized the connection between the surrounding environment and herself. Many primitive material were used such as eucalyptus, oak and redwood, rocks and flagstone, adobe, bricks and tiles, plaster, concrete and stucco.
Strong hand-picked rocks based on their size, shape and color from the slopes of the mountain. Adobe bricks to create the second story were many from the clay soil found along the drainage.
When the castle was finally finished, it was a multi-level, 27-room, 12,000 sq. floor home. It contained a sitting room, swing porch, pantry, four fireplaces, a dutch oven, dumb waiter, complete intercom system and a gasoline-engine-assisted windmill.
The windmill pumped water from the springs to redwood storage tanks and the room under the windmill was used to cool meats and vegetables.
Former archaeologist Ron May chimed in on his experiences here, saying this: “In 1977, the owner of The Castle contacted and invited me to visit the building and property. He was in the Hertlein family (liquor manufacturers). I observed a notebook of photos and heard the story of the spiritualist who selected each boulder/rock to build the castle.
She installed the rocks so the moss faced inside, then built a channel at the base that would drain water outside. Then she installed an irrigation system to water down the walls, which made the interior of the Castle cool and moist during the hot summer months.
There is a room that the ceiling is all in zodiac symbols, and a floor done the same upstairs. There have been many owners since then, but in the 1980s, I was Project Manager on Ramona Rural Estates and required The Castle to be nominated to the National Register and so it was. I left County service in 1998 and over the years learned it had indeed been designated.”
Amy later developed deep roots in the occult and spirit realm. Many claim her house to be haunted for this reason. She even had a zodiac room built! When I asked several of the employees working there if they thought it was haunted they unanimously shook their heads and said most definitely. There have been multiple employees who have abruptly quit due to frightening experiences in this home.
Kitty
Broken link!
September 26, 2013
Jacquie Norby
Beginning in 1979, I lived on this property as a resident/caretaker while it was on the market and before the land was developed. Yes it is filled with spirits of the past! I have many photos of those years. Sorry to see that someone along the way changed some of the original property features.
March 6, 2014
To: Jacquie
Would you mind sharing the photos you have?? I would love to see them!
June 24, 2014
Claudia NeVille Harris
I believe that this castle was owned by my cousin Ezra Tippetts. Can you confirm that this is the same one? Probably it was owned by his family somewhere around the 40’s or 50’s. It would mean a lot to me to know for sure. Thank you
August 25, 2015
Ashley
Hi Claudia! This is indeed Ezra Tippets’ old house! (I’m his granddaughter) They lived there from 1957 to about 1978.
August 29, 2015
Anonymous
@Anonymous, She was our great aunt as well! There’s a golf course there as well now.
April 13, 2019
Anonymous
I am so happy to see my Great Aunt Amy’s castle again. I was there in the early 60s visiting with my mother, what a magical place!
Thanks for the great photos!
April 13, 2019
Anonymous
I did not mean to send that emoji
July 8, 2019
Scarlett guerrero
Very disappointed in this place. My sister had a wedding here and they claim they are all inclusive but charge extra for everything.
My sister also paid extra to have a bartender and he was super rude to anyone of color and flat out refused to serve some of them.
Also, the staff stole my $100 pair of shoes. And almost stole a pair of my Dads Ray Ban sunglasses but he caught it on time. I do not recommend coming here at all.
August 8, 2023