Rubel Castle

Rubel Castle, also known as Rubelia, is a unique historic district located at 844 N. Live Oak Ave. in Glendora, California. Constructed over a twenty-seven-year period between 1959 and 1986, the site was the lifelong project of Michael Clarke Rubel. Beginning as a teenager, Rubel purchased a 1.7-acre plot featuring an old reservoir and a defunct citrus packing house. Driven by a childhood passion for building forts, he transformed the property into an expansive folk art environment. The structures are notable for their eclectic architectural style, utilizing concrete alongside nontraditional materials such as scrap steel, rocks, bedsprings, coat hangers, and glass bottles salvaged from the surrounding neighborhood as local ranches were replaced by suburban tract housing.

The castle holds significant historical value as a testament to individual creativity and resourcefulness, earning its place on the National Register of Historic Places in October 2013. The site reflects the personal history of the Rubel family, including Michael's father, an Episcopal priest and gag writer, and his mother, a former Broadway actress who hosted large gatherings at the packing house. Today, the property is owned and operated by the Glendora Historical Society, ensuring its preservation for future generations. The grounds maintain a rustic atmosphere where chickens and other animals are frequently sighted, echoing the site's agrarian roots. Rubel Castle stands as a distinctive cultural landmark, representing a whimsical yet enduring example of American folk art architecture built entirely from repurposed materials.