RE: There's another review site for the beautiful Rockhaven Sanitarium at:…read more https://www.yelp.com/biz/rockhaven-sanitarium-montrose We Are Friends of Rockhaven! Agnes Richards founded Rockhaven in 1923 after being a psychiatric nurse and witnessing the cruel treatment of women with mental illness. She made sure to call each and every patient a resident, and treat them with respect. The beautiful history of Rockhaven Sanitarium (or home for the Golden Age Stars) is the most vivid piece of history that's been forgotten by so many. My favorite actress Billie Burke (Glinda, the good witch), Mrs. Topper, and, well, just too many of her parts to list resided there until her death. Do you remember Elly May Clampett? She was played by Donna Douglas, who was also a resident at Rockhaven as was, Clark Gable's first wife, Marilyn Monroe's mother, Marion Rose of Vaudeville's Statler and Rose, Broadway's actress and producer, Peggy Fears; I'm just naming a few of the long list of golden age stars that have resided at Rockhaven. And, when you're enjoying the walk you can feel the glow they left behind. It's closed now due to the COVID pandemic but we're able to go once in a while to clean up a little and just 'be' in it's past. To relish in the feeling of just 'being' there, is amazing. You're able to touch all of the past around you! This is something I've seen only in LA and its surrounding areas. This type of museum interaction is priceless; it's like watching a golden oldie but, being right next to the star you admire(d) so very much. There's a group called Friends of Rockhaven that loves and cares so much for the Sanitarium; it's so heartwarming. One of the many protectors Joanna Linkchorst has allowed us to become one of the many friends of Rockhaven and contribute to its survival. It's been such a pleasure and an honor to help in any way we can and my sincere hope is that it won't be sold for demolition or forgotten. Thank you so much, Friends of Rockhaven for all you do!

Rockhaven Sanitarium, built in 1923, marked an important historical turning point in the…read moredevelopment of safe and humane treatment of women with mental illness. Home to many of Hollywood's family members in need of a stable and caring environment, including Marilyn Monroe's mother and Billie Burke, it became known for compassionate care of those with "a mental affliction". Learn more in this Emmy-winning documentary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88-u9JENth0. Today, it sits empty. The City of Glendale purchased the property to save it from certain destruction; plans to develop the property stalled during the recession. Friends of Rockhaven to the rescue! Guided by Joanna Linkchorst, tours of the property have educated scores of people about the important history of the sanitarium. Learn more about how to support this effort here: http://www.friendsofrockhaven.org/ Stigma is stigma. So many people have suffered unnecessarily due to prejudice against mental illness. Thank you, Rockhaven, for showing us a different way to peace and health.

I did the Missing at the Mortuary tour in Pasadena after watching The Mortician on HBO Max, so I…read morewas definitely curious to see how it all connected in real life. The tour had some creepy atmosphere but overall, it felt a little flat. Didn't really learn anything new or interesting. It wasn't bad, but it didn't really live up to the intrigue or tone of the show. I couldn't help but wonder if the electrical company that bought out the mortuary is getting a cut of the profits.

Best business out there for any entertainment! From ghost investigations to magic to escape rooms!…read moreThis place has it all! Insane that it is at a real true crime location... taking the tour next! 10/10 ask for Noel

This was so much fun!! Brad and Andrew are hilarious and they know so much crazy history about the…read morearea. I was hoping to meet some new people while visiting the area and this was perfect- we actually stayed out together after the crawl finished to keep partying. Great drinks, I got some awesome pictures on the rooftop bar we visited, super fun, and saw some really crazy people/cars/places on the walk. I hope to come back again to LA and do it again with my friends from home.

I went on this bar crawl not knowing what to expect. I was traveling alone and didn't know if it…read morewould be weird or fun... Turns out it was just what I needed! Brad and Andrew were both leading the tour and they both made me feel like we were old friends. The rest of the group was awesome too! I met people from all over. Also there was someone from Australia on the tour who had a mutual friend with me and we ended up face-timeing him! It was insane! This crawl was a lot of fun. I learned a lot, drank at awesome spots I never would have known about and the exclusive roof top view was worth the trip alone! Definitely would recommend!!! 5 Stars!

I went on a private vintage shopping tour with April, and WOW! I work in fashion (I've been a…read morestylist for 16 years). I've always admired vintage clothing, but I wasn't familiar with the older brands or their history. April knew EVERYTHING! She was so knowledgeable and was able to pick out gems I would have otherwise overlooked. I want to do one of her group tours next. Such a unique and fun experience for fashion lovers.

A thoroughly captivating and enjoyable walking tour. The amount of colorful history shared and the…read morepace were just right. Plus, you feel like you're walking with a celebrity.

Can only provide a partial review. Dear Hubby originally saw this event in the L.A. Times. We…read morewere planning to join the tour last Sunday, a one-day only event, celebrating the anniversary of Glendale's first historic district overlay zone. The neighborhood on Royal Blvd. is featured with a low key sign announcing the significance of the grouping of home. Though we didn't end up taking the docent-led tour, we did walk the street, checking out the facades and yards of the 30 homes in the district. Encompassing 30 homes, the styles include Spanish Colonial, Colonial, French and Mediterranean Revival. Most sit up from the street, especially on the east side. This makes for dramatic opportunities with stairs and landscaping. The homes exhibit a genteel, grand style. I'm sure the architectural details and craftsmanship inside the homes would have been a beautiful sight to see. We were short on time and didn't want to rush through on a warm afternoon. We observed that they were grouping visitors outside, before sending them inside to keep the tours orderly. Hosted by the Glendale Historical Society, the tour precluded our chance to visit the Doctors House Museum, which was our original plan that day. The Society had diverted all its energy to hosting the Revivals Home Tour, which was understandable. We didn't figure it out until we'd driven all the way to Brand Park. I hope that this tour will be repeated next year. We'll plan ahead better so that we can take full advantage of the hours offered for the event. The Historical Society indicates on their website they host other walking tours in various neighborhoods at different times of the year. Those might not include interior visits, but would still be an introduction to other historically significant areas of the city. Always great to see unique homes with character celebrated and preserved.

I cannot say enough wonderful things about our experience here at Rubel Castle. Our host, guide,…read moreand local "Rubelligent" volunteer, Ms. Kathleen had all the intel about this historical property. She was so knowledgeable and helped set the stage for us to slip into a forgotten era and get a glimpse of how imagination met inventiveness with a DIY charm. ~ A LITTLE BACKSTORY FOR YOU ~ It's not pronounced Rubel as Barney from Flintstones. Rather, it's like Target is to Targét when we are trying to be fancy. So that's Rubel as in "Roo-bell." Unlike modern-day construction, Rubel Castle wasn't built overnight. It was made of collected recyclables and construction rubble that spanned many decades and took several friends and volunteers to build it. For Michael, however, the lifetime inspiration was first sparked at the age of 9. His love for canons was where it started and the rest is history you can hear about on the tour. But don't just show up like we did randomly one day. To book, visit RubelTours.org and make a reservation. ~ OUR TOUR EXPERIENCE ~ It's as if Michael Rubel, the creator and mastermind of this enchanted dominion had intended it to be--magical. Built in the castle period of wood and tin, every corner captured our interests, from antique cars to the 1890's Seth Thomas Tower Clock with a unique backstory (and only six in existence today). There were old vending machines, tools, trinkets, and machinery that time had long forgotten. Did I mention there was a drawbridge? Yes, and a dungeon too. I was just waiting for a dragon to come swoop down on us next. Walk in the footsteps of famous visitors like Alfred Hitchcock, Dwight Eisenhower, Jack Benny, and Bob Hope. It's a feast for the eyes no matter where you glance. I particularly enjoyed the bottle house that Michael built in 1968 as his "home" as a kid. That independent spirit was quite charming to see. ~ WATERCOLOR NATURESCAPE ~ We were fortunate to have our gracious host lead us on a tour and organize a special art crafting experience outdoors. It was absolutely lovely beneath the trees and between rusted vintage cars from the turn of the century. We each got a small canvas to paint our flowers in watercolor. (This particular experience takes place in the Spring and Fall, weather permitting.) We heard the squirrels rattling in the leaves and birds chirped and sang in the trees above. We discovered that peacocks apparently originated from this property, compliments of Michael Rubel. And did I mention that on the far side of the property, a custom garden was in full bloom? BOOK A TOUR Help support the Glendora Historical Society and keep this magnificently unique city-castle maintained. It's worth it.

A castle in Glendora? Yes, your eyes aren't deceiving you--Rubel Castle is real, it's magnificent,…read moreand it's gloriously eccentric. Thanks to the sheer persistence (and probably delightful stubbornness) of Michael Rubel, we now have this quirky, towering State Treasure sitting right in the middle of Glendora like a fairy tale that accidentally took a detour through a hardware store. This place is beautifully done, and part of its charm is that it's a full-on hodgepodge of relics, antiques, crystal trinkets, and "wait... what is that doing here?" moments tucked into every nook and cranny. You'll marvel, you'll laugh, you'll squint in confusion--honestly, it's everything you'd want in a castle built with love, imagination, and a dash of madness. And let's talk about the makeshift cemetery. Quirky? YES. Fun? Absolutely. Slightly spooky? Only if your imagination is over-caffeinated. But it fits the vibe perfectly--like the castle whispered, "You know what I'm missing? A tiny cemetery." The tours are fantastic, the guides are passionate, and the whole experience feels like you're stepping into a living scrapbook of California history and charming chaos. Overall: Amazing, amazing place. Book your tour. They only do tours every first Sunday of the month, so set your alarms, mark your calendars, tie a string around your finger--just don't miss it. Rubel Castle is truly a California State Treasure, and an absolute must-see for anyone who appreciates creativity, history, and a little eccentric sparkle.

Great loved the discount at the restaurant and the tour guide himeself would go againread more

So much fun! My sister and I booked a walking tour and our guide, Jacob, was absolutely wonderful…read more He's very well versed on all things haunted and mysterious but also on the history of Whittier. I highly recommend taking the nighttime walking tour the next time you're in the area.

Beautiful tour with a wonderful host. Beautiful scenic views with lots of information. 100%…read morerecommend to family and friends in the area.

My family took her tour Very Impressive Tour. Were glad we found Shellee. We got great Pictures of…read moreALL the Elaborate Mansions... Cause SHELLEE @ ALL BIZ TOURS... Didn't Race past them as we had experienced 2 years ago when we didn't have a very good experience. This is the most Exciting Tour we've taken. Thanks Again, Tina, Anthony & family