Daily Inspiration: Meet Scott Rubel

Today we’d like to introduce you to Scott Rubel.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am a California boy whose life veered off from the normal in 1968 when my uncle, Michael Rubel, started mixing concrete on the property of an old citrus packing plant in the foothills of Glendora, California. Our first project was a tiny bottle house, which kicked off twenty years of building, stone-by-stone, a 75 foot high castle of repurposed materials (which we called “junk” in those days) and river rock. This is partly the story of a family trying to get along where the best solution was more than one roof. This Bottle House was built using the wine bottles emptied during his mother’s large parties, and it became Michael’s getaway from those same parties.
The construction of the Castle was a remarkable experience which changed the lives of hundreds of friends who came to help build: some of them for a few hours, some of them for many years.
It is gratifying to see these Castle veterans return today for a public tour. No matter how much or little time they might have spent with us in the 60s through the 80s, they can all proudly say they had a hand in our massive artist built environment.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Rubel Castle was deeded to the Glendora Historical Society in 2005 by my Uncle Michael, who in his wisdom proclaimed he would never give the property to anyone he loves. Thus, he originally tried to give it to the town of Glendora, who refused responsibility, so the Historical Society accepted it.
I remained involved after 2005 because I was asked to help the Society operate the property as a public attraction. I had the institutional memory, so I agreed to stay and help.
Although many on the board in 2005 had good intentions, the challenges have been daunting ever since, with each year bringing a new set of challenges to Castle stewardship. In recent years, with the development of a Preservation Plan crafted by Page & Turnbull, the Castle is now ready for restorative action, if we can raise funds for it all. The biggest challenge at this time is living through these years of broken government. A couple of years ago we were very close to landing some significant grant money for some essential work, but any part of our system that supported good work was demolished by the current administration, so we’re doing the tasks we can handle while raising small grants and advertising tourism to raise funds that way. Our Preservation Plan by Page & Turnbull, by the way, won awards from the California Preservation Foundation and the Los Angeles Conservancy in 2024.
The board of the Society poses a systemic challenge by changing every year, but the upside is that it is increasingly staffed by qualified, caring people who help align us in our vision of a future. During the current timeline that mirrors somewhat the era we began in (1968), Rubel Castle has relevant and exciting stories to tell: lessons in community living, farming, building with a free spirit, and so much of the humor and meaningful work people are hungry for now.
My challenge is to spread the news and share the stories.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My work is learning how to be retired. I’ve been at that for a few months now. My longest career was with Carnegie Observatories for 36 years as Facilities Manager.
Now, my work is board member and volunteer facilities manager for a Castle. This work is only possible because of the many amazing volunteers who share the load and the joy.
I have been lucky that both of these jobs keep me in touch with the local history I love, and in touch with keeping these stories meaningful for future generations.

Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
The Ingenious Gentleman Don Quixote of La Mancha
One Man’s Dream (about Rubel Castle)
Hardboiled Wonderland and the End of the World
Penguin Island
Geek Love

Pricing:

• Tours: $25 adults – $15 minors
• Membership prices vary. Find out on web site.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.GlendoraHistory.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rubelcastle
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RubelCastle
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/RubelCastleCalifornia
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rubel-castle-glendora
• Other: https://www.rubeltours.org