Rubel Castle

About

Rubel Castle, also known as Rubelia, is a monumental folk art environment located in Glendora, California. It was entirely built by hand by Michael Rubel and his “pharmhands” over several decades. The castle’s stone masonry was handcrafted using river rock, recycled materials, and relics from Glendora’s early agricultural and industrial eras. Michael’s innovative use of both natural and cultural materials makes Rubel Castle an exceptionally important masterwork within the context of folk art environments in California. The castle serves as a rare resource and physical reminder of the citrus industry, which played a significant role in the area’s development in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. Built over 26 years, the castle has become a popular attraction, drawing visitors from around the world to learn about its vast history.

The construction of Rubel Castle began in 1959 when Michael Rubel purchased a 1.7-acre citrus orchard on which the structure resides. With the help of his friends and close family, the castle grew to be thousands of square feet with towers five stories high. Rubel and his associates built the structure without architectural plans, utilizing salvaged river rock, cement, steel, aluminum, telephone poles, and other repurposed materials. The castle has hosted notable guests such as Prince Philip, former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Henry Kissinger, the Archbishop of Canterbury Robert Runcie, and Governor George Deukmejian. In March 2005, Rubel donated the Castle to the Glendora Historical Society.