Preston Castle was an impressive sized structure as I stood in front of it. It was as beautiful as it was frightening. I could feel the past surrounding me, going through me, sending chills through my body. This is where I begin my story about my journey to this location. It was here that I could feel the emotions of long ago spirits trying to tell me their story for the first time.
Many things had to fall in place in my universe for me to be able to make it to Preston Castle. I had always wanted to come here, but wasn’t ready to until now. My abilities to feel the emotions of spirits, had to grow to a level that would allow me to experience this castle in a way that I would understand it, when I was mature enough.
I was lucky to have had two people in my life to guide me to this moment in time. Clairvoyant Psychic and Medium Brandy Tricas and Psychic Empath Cherie Pruitt painstakingly got me here! Where is here you ask? Preston Castle!
Preston Castle is located in Ione, Amador County, California. Built between 1890 and 1894, on a 13-acre property, the castle is about 50,000 square feet. It was built for the Preston School of Industry that housed troubled youth on the property from 1894 to 1960. Preston Castle was created by state legislators to house and rehabilitate male juvenile offenders instead of simply incarcerating them.
Ione was established in 1849. Believe it or not, the town was not founded on gold mining. It was known as a supply center, stage and rail stop, and agricultural hub.
Today, Preston Castle is maintained by the Foundation Board. They hold many events throughout the year to raise funds to restore the castle. Everything from spring fairs, beer and wine tasting, ghost hunts, to Christmas at the Castle.
Preston Castle has been investigated by all the major TV networks and their paranormal teams over the years and Lingering Souls Paranormal, Santa Cruz Ghost Hunters, and myself, got our opportunity to do the same!
But before investigating Preston Castle we made ourselves at home at Hotel Sutter and Restaurant. Not only was Hotel Sutter haunted itself, but it had good food and good spirits of the liquid kind!
Hotel Sutter
Hotel Sutter is located in the town of Sutter Creek, California. In 1848, Developer John Sutter, discovered gold in nearby Coloma, which triggered the California Gold Rush. Today, Sutter Creek has a population over 2,600 residents.
Hotel Sutter is haunted! I know…shocker! Many employees have encountered an apparition of a lady on the 3rd floor of the hotel. It’s assumed she was the madam of the house in her time period. The hotel was originally built in 1852 and was called American House during the height of the California Gold Rush.
The American House was both a stage stop and meeting place for locals. But in 1865 a portion of building burned down. It was rebuilt and called American Exchange Hotel.
The hotel also had a speakeasy during the prohibition era complete with tunnels that ran under the street.
My room in particular had a closet that I could not go into. I could feel a dark energy within the closet. So I kept the closet door shut my entire stay. I never saw the lady of the house appear during our stay, but perhaps on the next visit here??
With all these different layers of activity, emotions, and human energy, over the last hundred years, has made Hotel Sutter ripe for spirit activity.
Hotel Restaurant and Bar
If there is one thing paranormal teams do well outside of investigating the paranormal…it’s eating and drinking!
Tater Tot Craziness
The hotel’s tater tots with all the fix’ins was a meal in itself! Taters on the bottom and pulled pork, corn, black beans, and salsa fresca on top! It was mighty tatsy.
The Sampler
I chose the sampler! Bacon Mac n Cheese, half rack of smoked St. Louis ribs, smoked brisket, and chili beans was too much of a meal for me. The smoked brisket and ribs was mouth watering good. It had a nice smokey flavor and the smoke ring was perfect. It was messy, sticky, feed your shirt kind of food.
Easter Sunday Brunch
Easter Brunch, yeah I know, we really didn’t think it through when we picked the date to travel, that it would be during Easter weekend. But hey…it all worked out because the food was delish.
This was an Easter special: poached eggs, on top of a crispy thick smoked pork belly, on top of a biscuit in a hollandaise sauce…holly moly! The flavors of this bad boy was amazing!
Not one, but two sausage, egg, and melted cheddar cheese sandwiches on brioche buns was super filling and very good.
Pea Soup Andersen's Restaurant
Whenever I travel on I-5 to the Central Valley, I always make an effort to stop at Pea Soup Andersen’s in Santa Nella, California. Having a fresh bowl of split pea soup instead of out of their can is so much better.
I also love a good plate of fried chicken! It’s hard to find fried chicken in a restaurant in my area. For some reason it’s not a thing. But that’s okay, Andersen’s fried chicken tastes good and has plenty to satisfy my craving for it.
Andersen’s also has a restaurant in Buellton, Ca. under the same owner with the same menu items!
Preston Castle, Ione, California
Preston Castle was about a 15 minute drive from Sutter Creek and Hotel Sutter. Easy to get to.
The great thing about this investigation was we had the entire castle to ourselves; along with the docents who graciously volunteered their personal time to guide us and keep us safe during the investigation. The castle was old and under construction. The docent’s main job was to keep us from falling and injuring ourselves from the construction work.
We divided up into small groups to cover all the space inside the castle. Cherie and I worked alone, that way she could guide me and train me to heighten my empath abilities with little disruption. Our docent took us to our first room in the dormitory on the 2nd floor of the castle.
The Mirror
In the dormitory there was a mirror that was unsettling to us. If I stood directly in front of it…it immediately made me nauseated, off balance, wobbly, and it gave me a sharp headache.
We felt that this mirror was not a portal in the sense that everything from everywhere could come through it. It was a very narrow or specific use travel pathway for certain individuals. We are not sure if the mirror or furniture are original to this room or to the castle. The docent could not confirm if the furniture was original to the castle either.
We could feel energy coming directly out of it, going straight on, in a linear line out the door, and into the hallway.
Part of my work and training as an empath was to focus on the emotions of the space. There were certain areas that had residual spirit activity and intelligent spirit activity. For me, the difference between the two are this: residual plays over and over again like a broken record with no real time answers to questions. Intelligent spirits will answer you back in real time or do something for you that you ask them to do in a timely manner.
Rather than try to explain the emotions I was feeling and seeing in my mind I attached a few video clips for you to review.
In my development as an empath I see words in my mind that are associated with the emotion the spirit tries to convey to me. I also see emotions being conveyed to me by way of my own life experience, in the form of a vision or my own emotions, within my body.
In other words, if the spirit shows the emotion of sadness I might start to cry or I will have a vision of a person crying or I will see the word “sad”.
The best way I can explain it…it’s like playing the game of “Pictionary” with the spirits.
Mirror Video Clip A
Video clip A: I am expressing my dislike of the mirror. There are other things happening in this video as well. You will see the occasional bug fly by and a couple Orbs fly by.
Mirror Video Clip B
In video B the Orbs versus bugs was much more pronounced. Bugs fly in a sporadic, sometimes zig zag way. Orbs travel with purpose, smoothly, and a bit of a slower pace.
Feeling Emotions
In this space I am feeling the essence of a spirit and its emotions left behind, which were coming across to me as sad and lost. I felt this area had a residual haunting going on. You will also see a couple of Orbs and a bug or two fly by.
Don't Drop the Soap
It is common to hear the phrase “don’t drop the soap” in places of incarceration, especially prisons, because if you bent over to pick up the soap bar, you were most likely to be sexually assaulted someway. Sadly, there is some truth to that phrase…even in places like Preston Castle.
In this video we are in the shower room where the boys had to shower together. I was operating the camera in this scene. The male spirits, who haven’t seen a female in their shower space, ever, had a field day with her. Cherie said she had the sensation of being raped by their eyes.
Onward
It’s been a year since I first met Lingering Souls Paranormal and Cherie Pruitt. This team has put me through some of the weirdest, scariest places, and the most physical pain I have ever experienced in the paranormal world. And to think our work together has only begun!
I’ve said this many times over the last year: Lingering Souls Paranormal is a shit magnet for all things paranormal! Mainly due to Cherie and her empath gifts. The spirit world knows she can communicate with them, often making her the target, and the rest of us are left scratching our heads in disbelief.
Our adventures will continue together! Cherie continues to guide and train my empath mind to expand further into the spirit universe. I don’t know where exactly that will take us, but I’m excited to explore wherever we end up…until next time on Foodie Booze Explorer!
If you want more information about Lingering Souls Paranormal go to: http://lingeringsoulsparanormal.com
Santa Cruz Ghost Hunters: http://santacruzghosthunters.com
Brandy Tricas: http://7thsight.net
Preston Castle: http://prestoncastle.org
You and your spooks. Hope one doesn’t hide in your car and you bring it back with you.😂😂😂
Hahaha…🤣 thanks Kevin!
This is the best one yet for me. I could feel her emotion in that shower area.
The food looked very good!
Thanks Dave!
Excellent presentation on your developing work and foodie words … will stay tuned as you evolve and hopefully help some of these stuck souls !
Diane
Thank you Diane!