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Recommended Reviews - Davenport Jail

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5 years ago

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The Court of Mysteries - Entry and courtyard fountain

The Court of Mysteries

3.9(15 reviews)
9.1 mi

Once abandoned and in ruins, when we first moved to the Bay Area it was a desolate and decayed huge…read morelot with a pet goat and a caretaker in a mobile home to shoo off explorers and vandals. Built in the 1930s by Kenneth Kitchen. It's inspired by romanticized Hindu mysticism as well as the arcane and occult. Because of this the site is covered in symbology and hidden meaning. From the obvious all seeing eye at the front gate to the mini details in the brick there is an esoteric design language that keeps it all unified and cohesive. The legend is also complemented by the fact that the owner and brothers were bricklayers and stone masons and it was only constructed under moon light. It was purchased in 2016 and lovingly restored and developed by the new owners to preserve the local folk-art style architecture. The new main house is next to the "court of mysteries" and a lot of the missing abalone and smashed brick has been painstakingly replaced.

The Court of Mysteries (which also goes by The Red Brick Castle, among other names) is a beautiful…read moremonument and home in Santa Cruz, which not many people know about. It has a very interesting history to it, and though you cannot go inside the house or on the property itself (because it is a private residence), you can still appreciate the architecture from out front, including a lovely fountain in the courtyard, and learn about the stories and mysteries that have defined this unique landmark. These stories can easily be found online, but some of the most interesting details are that the original builder (Kenneth Kitchen and his brother) built it only during the night, modeled it after a Hindu temple, and incorporated hidden messages throughout, using shapes, astrological symbols, and dashes and dots resembling morse code, with possible connection to the occult. Also, there is no historical record of Kenneth Kitchen after he left Santa Cruz in the 1950's, so yeah a lot of oddities to drive your imagination and make you wonder. One of the most intriguing parts of the Court of Mysteries is the "Gate of Prophesy" which has two magnificent towers and an intricately designed archway with the mysterious triangular structure at its center. Beautiful trees and vegetation surround the brick and abalone "temple" and entire site, creating a picturesque scene overall. Apparently the property was restored a few years ago by the previous owners (I'm pretty sure that rebuild didn't occur "only at night"). They even built a house on the left side to live in while reconstructing the Court of Mysteries. The property was subsequently sold in late 2021. If you're interested in a quick visit, it's easy to just park right on the street, take a few photos of the amazing archway and towers, and peek through the gate to see what the Court of Mysteries looks like today... and then maybe amuse yourself with the legend and history behind this strange phenomenon.

Photos
The Court of Mysteries - Gate and archway

Gate and archway

The Court of Mysteries - View from the street

View from the street

The Court of Mysteries - Close-up of front door

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Close-up of front door

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park

Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park

3.6(24 reviews)
9.5 mi

I really don't know whether to call the experience good or bad, and this review is simply to…read moreinform. Our son's fourth grade class went there this past week for a field trip. It was nice and the kids learned a lot. What I want people to know is that the staff there, Rangers and Docents, were a bit prickly and gruff. They seems to care more about keeping control than helping the kids learn. My wife used the word "aggressive" to describe one of them. So, if you're going there with a group, this might be your experience as well. Other than that, the kids had a great time!

A petite remnant of the Santa Cruz Mission. I knew about the Ohlone and Miwok from attending…read moreuniversities and pow wows in the Bay Area. The restoration and up-keeping of the Mission were remarkable! You can't miss the magnificent avocado tree with the giant hollow trunk. Oh, how I wished I could speak tree to listen to its narrative. I can't imagine just how much history it witnessed. I loved the 3-foot wide walls on the Adobe that would've been weather and humidity-proof for the year-round seasons. The roof in the adobe were made of tree-stuff. The structural integrity of the site was astounding even after experiencing the 1989 earthquake. The exhibits emphasized on agricultural manufacturing and processing that would've been taken place in the Mission and inside the Adobe. The stairs made sense, and also the use of leather to tie some of the tools. However, the iron-based tools made me wonder how these dwellers would have access to masonry and blacksmith. Until... well, I can't spoil everything here. Just come visit if you're so curious about it. There are limited street parking around the nearby park, school, and church. Alternatively, park in downtown and take a walk through the 40-some stairs of an alley just next to the park. The park is practically wheelchair accessible, but I wasn't sure if signs were posted.

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Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park
Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park

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Davenport Jail - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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