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enedict Castle, Riverside, California. This Spanish stylem castle was designed by H.L.A. Jekel in the Spanish-Moorish style and built in two stages, 1922-1931.
Charles Benedict traveled Europe rather than attend college. After becoming wealthy, he began construction of the castle in 1922 after his second marriage. After a year and a divorce, construction resumed again in 1926 after he was remarried. Named after his mother Castillo Isabella was finished about five years later. During their time there, Charles and his third wife entertained many well known people including Jack Warner of Warner Brothers and Edgar Bergan. Unfortunately, Charles died in 1938, although, his wife lived there for another eleven years. She then sold it at auction. Three years later, the castle was resold to the Servite Order of the Catholic Church to be used as a Seminary. In 1971, the Servite Order sold it to the Southern California Teen Challenge the current owner.
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\Over the years the castle has been used as the setting for several movies such as Hunchback of Notre Dame, Bride of Frankenstein, 1948’s Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein and 1965’s Two On a Guillotine with William Conrad and Connie Stevens.
