This event was a type of searching for spirits, a ghost hunt event. As simple as it was it was also a great experience a bit complex as well but also the environment really made it. The castle itself is historic with some insanely horrific history to it. I'm not going to say much more it's a great experience. The castle does all different types of events throughout the year, they're most popular is the haunt during Halloween season or throughout October. I went one year it was pretty amazing. My family has gone a few times and loved it. Look forward to this year!! Get your tickets quick because it sells out fast. read more

The Castle never disappoints. It helped that we also had awesome Docents, Francisco and Aaron.

Came here for the haunted house event about a week ago and I'm not sure if I would come back again. Tickets were $35 each (purchased online) and you have to park and walk about 10-15 minutes to the castle or you can take the little van that drives you there which also takes the same amount of time. We took the van to the castle but they don't drop you off directly in front of the castle so you still have to walk down through security and then to the castle. Porte potty's are available right before security and once you walk up the hill to wait in line to enter the castle. There were a couple food trucks when we went, we were expecting a few based on what was said online but not sure if it depends on the time. We waited over an hour in line to enter the haunted house and if you do really believe in ghosts this place is pretty haunted. The event itself wasn't scary, the actors aren't able to touch you but there's obviously loud screaming and they may be a bit too close for comfort to get a reaction out of you. You do have to climb up and down quite a few stairs and then there's a second part lead outside and back in the castle (barely any lighting and it's a dirt road so you have to carefully walk). Many strobing lights as well so do avoid if you are triggered by that. The energy throughout the castle was not pleasant or welcoming, I was very excited for it to be over as the haunted house itself was not very good and I was mostly tired from all the walking. There's a merch truck outside at the end of the castle as well. We also decided to walk back instead of waiting for the shuttle but there absolutely no lighting and many ditches with uneven flooring so you have to be very careful. Overall experience was not my favorite and I wouldn't come back again. read more

Preston Castle - Preston's Castle - Museums Near Me - Ione, California

Preston Castle Haunt - what a yearly tradition! My wife, my parents, and I have been making the spooky pilgrimage for years now, and it never disappoints. You just can't beat a haunted house that takes place inside an actual haunted prison. The vibe alone gives you goosebumps before you even step inside. Add in the scare actors (who I'm convinced are local kids living their best creepy dreams), the friendly staff, and the affordable merch, and you've got the full package. This year's haunt felt longer with even more scares tucked around the corners--right up my alley! Preston keeps stepping it up, and I'm here for it. Until next year, Castle... we'll be back. read more

See all

After some time thinking about and comparing my experience with others. I thought I'd update with some closing thoughts. It was an amazing experience. Very historically rich and a truly great learning experience. However. And I preface this for anyone like myself who isn't from amador county. The staff/volunteers here will provide a mixed experience for self guided tours. There were some amazing staff that provided details and answered questions. They were friendly and sociable. But there were some who would glare at you as if they didn't want you there. There were some who would stare as they walk passed even though we said hello. It's very very strange. read more

See all

This review is for the Preston Castle HAUNT (not the castle itself). Apparently the Castle offers tours which are pretty cool, but I've never personally been. The haunt sells out so you have to be on top of getting tickets. Personally I felt like prices are too high for the length/size of the haunt as the full walk through is only about 30-40 minutes. The haunt has mostly live actors in various scenes throughout the case that pop up to scare you, no one touches you or chases you but they do antagonize you some. They do a good job with the sets and costumes so it's easy to "get into it"; however, I wish there was some more variety or that it was longer. It gets fairly repetitive as you walk as there's really no other types of scares or experiences, only jump scares and vaguely creepy setting. It's dark and difficulty to see at times. It zig-zags you throughout several floors of the castle and outside briefly, so you need to be ready to do multiple flights up/down stairs and walk on uneven ground in poor lighting. You also have to hike up a small hill to get to the castle, they they did offer a ride on a golf-cart if you needed it. Because of the stairs and uneven paths inside the castle, I don't recommend for those with mobility issues. My dad had walking sticks and was really struggling. It's well organized and they force you to queue/line up at several check-points. First is security screening and then again to enter the castle. Overall we probably spent an hour or so in line and we had VIP and arrived like 45 minutes early. Without VIP I'd expect much longer waits. They have food trucks and a small gift-shop infront of the castle outside. Porta-potties only, no real bathrooms/toilets. Overall, it was fun but I won't come back. It's out in Ione away from all major cities so it's a trek to get to. It's also really pricey. I feel like you're better off with just a local haunted house if you want some Halloween fun, though maybe because this is in a historic site good for a one time visit. read more

Preston Castle - Museums Near Me - Ione, California

LOVE this Paranormal Investigation site! Small groups and an incredible property. Just getting started at 7:30pm, and looking forward to posting some great night time pics. Hubs and I were here 6 years ago and had more than a few interesting experiences. Very excited to be back with a smaller group - 3 sets of groups, 5-6 adults per guided group. Docents are experienced in leading investigative teams. This investigation was for adults, but I believe they do offer family friendly projects. Building is absolutely stunning with very unique architectural features. read more

Preston Castle - First investigation of 2024, 7pm - 2am, April 6! - Museums Near Me - Ione, California

We took the self-guided tour. It was pretty interesting and the docents were also friendly and helpful. There's a shuttle that can take you to the castle from where you park, which is helpful if you don't want to walk a steep hill. Recommended for history buffs. read more

Beautiful castle not going to lie about it BUT they aren't joking when they say it's haunted. It will literally affect your personal life afterwards. Havoc and turmoil started up in my life but I surrendered and got covered by the blood of Jesus. YOU WILL NEED IT IF YOU VISIT HERE. I am not being paranoid. The spirit realm is very alive and very real. I won't be visiting another haunted house again in my life. Tread extremely carefully otherwise risk being tormented thereafter. read more

Wow! 6 stars!! I'm glad I chance upon this information while reading up reviews on a scream park. This was way more worth it and my kid and I we had FUN!! We bought the general admission tickets online - $31 plus tax and fees, $111++ for 3 people. We parked, a shuttle drove us to the castle. I suggest coming half hour before your schedule ticket time. There was a long line, no biggie, the crowd we were with in shuttle and line was fabulous, fun, happy and can't wait to be spooked! We screamed our head off, the place reminds me of those horror movies in boarding school, castle old buildings... authentic feel of spookiness! Go here, no age limit, there are food stall for drink, tacos, tamales and kettle corns. Several Pot-a-potty, users must have been educated in keeping it clean. If you love scream park, you'll love this! :) friendly staffs and the sugar cookie was yum (they hand it out to you at the end). So not bring babies, some areas in the castle is super dark. read more

See all

This place did what it was supposed to do! Lots of scares and laughter at getting scared! They are very well organized, lots of work went into the different scenes and line flows quite quickly. We were fortunate to be selected to "win" VIP passes and learned the history of the castle. Not for kids! Very dark and jump scares, inappropriate scenes for young children. I would not recommend anyone under 18. I would love to come back and learn more about this historical place. read more

Preston Castle - Entering - Museums Near Me - Ione, California

The Haunt was so fun! We arrived 30 minutes before gates open and had no issue parking in the upper lot. Porta potty's were available in the parking lot before security AND inside the Haunt. Security line went fast and they didn't check very hard. We were able to bring in sealed water bottles but that may not be the same for everyone. When they began letting people in the castle we only waited about 25-30 minutes. The line was really dependent on how many VIP people showed up. At 7:30pm the line had tripled and was VERY long, so get there early or do VIP. They had a good amount of merch, including some great stuff for history lovers. Food inside of security included a taco truck, potstickers, fish and chips, fudge, kettle corn, shaved ice, and a few other small things. The actual haunted house was cool. You got to see historical artifacts before beginning the scares. It took us about 20 mins to walk through the entire thing. Lots of stairs, but they were well-lit with hand rails. There was also a small portion outside. Not the scariest one I've ever been to, but I did scream a few times! At the end they gave us each a cookie!! read more

Preston Castle - The castle with the haunt ticket you receive before security. - Museums Near Me - Ione, California

See all

This castle is absolutely beautiful from the outside, built in the late 1800's with bricks made by Folsom and San Quentin inmates. It is still in the long process of being restored, but hardly noticeable. Inside is a totally different story. I didn't come during a special event, just for the self-guided tour, where you can roam the castle at your own pace. I was attracted to the haunted stories behind this former rehabilitation institution for young male delinquents. But I learned a lot more about its interesting history when I visited, rather than the hauntings which resulted from the numerous deaths that occurred over decades at Preston School of Industry. For the self-guided tour, guests can explore freely, with several docents available throughout to answer questions or share noteworthy details about some of the rooms. Know that this is a restoration project in progress. Though most rooms can be viewed from the doorway (roped off), some are full of rubble and just have signs describing what the room was used for in the past. Others are in updated condition with props and furnishings, set up like something you would find at the Winchester Mystery House and you can actually walk inside the rooms and look at everything up close, like the Company B dorm room that housed 60-70 boys, the staff dining room, apartments, infirmary, day rooms, and patio (a giant courtyard similar to that of a prison). In the museum, we got to view original photos and artifacts, and discovered famous names associated with the reform school -- actors, musicians, athletes, and authors who were formerly wards at Preston (ie. Rory Calhoun and Merle Haggard). There was even a section dedicated to the various TV and film productions that depicted stories of or were filmed at this castle, including Ghost Adventures and The Unexplained Files (on Discovery). We had a great experience exploring the museum and castle this past weekend, and all of the docents we interacted with were friendly and knowledgeable. For less than $20 per person, the regular self-guided tour is definitely worth checking out. But they also hold various private events here (ie. weddings), as well as other cool events like the halloween haunt during October, and a beer and wine tasting event, even an upcoming Oddities and Curiosities Show this Saturday, which are all great opportunities to pay a visit if you're curious. read more

See all

This review is for Halloween Haunt season 2022 --- What a disappointment! My wife and I LOVE haunted attractions and history! Historic castle, with haunted theme? Who wouldn't want to attend. . . Here's the thing. If these haunted attractions want to attract huge crowds, you need LINE management, alert staff that are willing to communicate with guests, be gentle but stern, and make it something special for each and every group. This was like a teaser, with full costs. They started out by asking how many per group, spacing people out..... there was potential. About 10 minutes in.... crowds just started filling up. People stopped or dramatically slowed down in front. Crowds behind hurried up like there was a prize for how quick you maneuver through. All the while, I'm thinking, IF you can have this many cameras in our faces..... how about you have that many employees walking among the guests keeping an even pace AND slowing down others so we all don't see the scares from a hallway distance??? It's actually disrespectful to paying guests to literally ruin their enjoyment of the actors, props, and the experience when I'm basically wedged between people at the front getting a scare..... and people behind me practically holding my hand for being so close. Terrible management of lines Mismanaged parking lot structure Running crowds thru like we're cattle in a castle Finally, losing returning guests, integrity, and future referrals. Haunt wise, this is a hard pass read more

Preston Castle - October 2022 - Museums Near Me - Ione, California

Did "The Haunt" tour tonight and had so much fun!! Lots of spooky, creepy, and startling characters. Get there early, as the line to go into the house is long (yes, even with advance tix) but it's totally worth the wait. Lots of up and down stairs but stairwells were well lit. They did a great job! read more

Preston Castle - Museums Near Me - Ione, California

Love it here they are so awsm we had so much fun!!! Prices are great too. We love u guys!!

My family, friends, and I went to the Preston Castle Haunt in Ione this past weekend. For three weekends in October, they put on this "haunted house" event that benefits the preservation of this historical landmark. While I've never toured the castle until that night, I did pay a visit to Preston Youth Correctional Facility years ago when it was still part of California Dept. of Corrections and Rehabilitation - from there, I could see the Castle looking foreboding even in the daylight! From Elk Grove, it took about an hour drive for us to arrive in Ione and it was dark when we arrived around 7 pm. Parking was easy - there were plenty of staff directing the cars on where to go. As for the line to get in, a staff person scanned our electronic tickets and exchanged them for paper tickets. Then, before we could enter the fenced property, our bags were searched and we went through a metal detector before getting into a second line to enter the Castle. Inside the fenced property, there was a taco truck, a caramel popcorn vendor, someone selling Jamba Juice, and portable potties. By the time we entered the Castle itself, it was over an hour later - which we barely noticed because the line kept moving and we were all nervous and excited. The VIP ticket holder line went faster than ours but it wouldn't have been worth paying the extra $10 per person for it. Once inside the Castle, the line moved faster. Cell phones had to be put away and nobody was allowed to touch any props. They spaced each party so that we wouldn't run into the people in front of us and the people behind us wouldn't catch up to us. I didn't know what to expect but I was pleasantly surprised by how creepy the path was at some points. And, they did a great job with the characters roaming around - some docile, others followed us, while some jumped out from nowhere. It was a lot of fun - even for the one person in our group who was not looking forward to going and doesn't like scary things! From start to finish, it took us about 45 minutes and I was trying to go as fast as possible because it was still creepy - despite knowing that the characters aren't real. The Castle itself was creepy in the dark and it's reportedly haunted by ghosts. Besides, I knew that the company who didn't want to be there at all would appreciate the hustle - and he was glad I'd hurried us along! I haven't been to a haunted house in many years so I can't compare this event to any other scary haunted house. But, we had a fantastic time and were glad we went despite the long drive! The staff was really nice and everything went fairly smoothly. read more

See all

So much fun!! Went to the last night of the haunt and it was everything we had hoped it would be. This place is amazing and all the staff and security were very helpful and the actors are incredible. Would absolutely recommend and definitely worth the extra bit of cash for VIP. read more

Preston Castle - Museums Near Me - Ione, California

See all

Very cool and beautiful historical building. Definitely best to go tour before it gets too hot. Buy tickets online for your selected time. There are a few flights of stairs but not too hard to navigate. read more

See all

The Preston castle does an amazing job on their yearly Halloween haunt. We go here every year and are never disappointed. We decided to get the fast pass this year even though it cost more to see if it was worth it. Well, it started pouring rain and needless to say we were extremely happy we paid the extra money. We will continue to visit every year I'm hoping they will get more vendors as the years go on because the few vendors they had, had a ridiculous wait because they weren't prepared for the crowds! The free cookies they handed out this year with a awesome addition ! read more

See all

I arranged for a private tour for 20 adults at the Preston Castle. Our tour guides were docents Donnie and Sybil. They did a wonderful job telling us all about the institution's history, with many fascinating stories. All our questions were expertly answered. The "castle" was the first of many buildings of a sprawling reform school for boys, the Preston School of Industry (renamed the Preston Youth Correctional Facility in 1999). The institution was founded in 1894 and this hilltop structure, technically named the Administration Building, was constructed of sandstone and granite bricks made at Folsom and San Quentin Prisons. The building was vacated in 1960 (the entire reformatory closed in 2011). This once crumbling "castle," now somewhat in a state of arrested decay, has been managed by historic preservationists since 2001. Designed by Henry Atherton Schulze, it's a fine example of Romanesque Revival architecture. The building has 75 rooms on 5 floors, 257 windows and a gargoyle-decorated tower. Schulze also designed the Olympic Club in San Francisco (1893) and the First Church of Christ, Scientist in Oakland (1900-1902). Country music legend Merle Haggard was incarcerated at the Preston School of Industry multiple times in the early to mid 1950s. (He later spent time in San Quentin.) Here's a Haggard quote regarding the Preston School of Industry, "The buildings looked like something out of a Frankenstein movie and there was a big bell tower right in the middle of the whole deal and it looked spooky as hell." A few horror movies were filmed at the site, including the 2019 flick "Apparition." And a 1990s rock band named themselves after this notorious facility. Highly recommended! Here's a link to the Preston Castle Foundation's website, through which tours can be arranged: https://prestoncastle.org read more

Preston castle is definitely worth the drive. You should do the tour so much amazing history.

Love love love love LOVE. My husband took me here for my birthday this year for their haunted house. Man, I was SCARED haha. The actors are AMAZING. The props are AMAZING. The history and the building AMAZING. I can not wait to come back to do a regular tour of the place put of holiday season. read more

See all

Years in the past the Halloween haunted house was great! This year we literally were treated as if we were the kids that occupied the castle. Two women in paticular that worked the event were like HITLER! No pictures at all anywhere not even a selfie! Our party was escorted by law enforcement off the property because I took a picture! They are out of control with picture taking! As if its going to damage something or give up their secrets of a haunted house. I read and heard many other people also were treated the way we were! What a shame! I just may picket them next year! read more

Preston Castle is such a cool place. I love coming for regular days and each year for the Haunt!

Loved the "Haunt". Worried because we arrived 45 mins early, it actually ended up being perfect. We got close parking and were near the front of the line. Staff came out about 30mins before door time and walked the line, scanning QR codes and providing physical tickets. 15 mins prior to door security began bag and wand checks. Once inside the gate you are directed to either general admission or vip, based on your tickets. While you wait in line you will notice figures in the distance, hear random screams and cries and even bump into a few creepy visitors in line. The rules are simple, stay on the path, keep your cellphone tucked away and no touching. The VIP line does feed first and more often but given we arrive early our wait was only a few minutes. Initially they space the parties for maximum surprise but ultimately you end up in a steady line. It is dark, there are strobe effects, fog machines and stairs. As we wondered through dark corridors you were left wondering when the next surprise will arrive. You can never guess right. After winding through several areas we found ourselves outside and assumed it was the end. Wrong! There is an outdoor walk through a faux cemetery before returning to the building and exploring other levels of the castle. As the scares come to the end you exit the side of the castle to an area prime for photo ops with assorted food vendors, merch and restrooms. Worth the hour drive from Sac. Safe and fun event for the family. Not overly gory, lots of jump scares though so expect some colorful language. Well run and a great experience. read more

See all

So the manager appears to imply we weren't in line at 830 however we were in line at 8:15. A 2 hour wait for a 15 minute haunting is unacceptable with no water and no way back to your car that you were shuttled from unless of course you lose your place in line. This was a huge fail in the part of Preston Castle and the manager is okay with it. Noted. read more

The only nightmare was the wait time. Over 1.5 hour wait for a thirty minute tour. First there was a line to get on the shuttle, then a wait line to check in, then a line to get in the castle. Then there was a line within the castle. The experience is sad considering they are trying to raise funds for the restoration. Instead, I will never donate. read more

super cool experience, went on a self guided tour. they roped off the location to keep people from wondering aimlessly, but you do get to see most of the safe areas. read more

Preston Castle - tubs - Museums Near Me - Ione, California

See all

Being someone who has always been fascinated with this place, I finally took my son to check it out and it did not doubt. Absolutely beautiful, even in the state that it's currently in. The town is small but quint. I drive an electric vehicle and superchargers are non existent here. I recommend, you charge your vehicle before you drive out here! read more

Featured in Ghost Adventures ... and Ghost Hunters! My hubby enjoys watching these shows and when the opportunity arises to visit these places in the paranormal world where EVP recorders, EMF meters, thermal cams, and ghost hunting kits have gone before we are there!! LoL!! Our first visit to the institution was in April 2012. The drive from our home was about an hour and ten minutes. We love a good adventure so off we went on a random drive. They do offer tours but we arrived here on our last leg of day adventures coming from Nevada City. I believe we paid $5 at the time to get in for about 45-mins of self-guided tour. We were able to walk through the first and second floors. We checked out each room, now just filled with remnants from the past... the doctor's office and pharmacy room, the boys community shower room and toilet room, the kitchen where the institution housekeeper, Anna Corbin, was bludgeoned to death in the 1950's, and the storage room where the boys held her body. There is a makeshift memorial where there is a photo of her in that room. There was an indoor pool in the property and library on the 2nd Floor. On the second floor was also the dormitories and staff apartments, and staff dining room. We might have missed more areas to see as we only had less than an hour to do our own tour... The property was featured in an episode of Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures, the Atlantic Paranormal Society, and SyFy's Ghost Hunters. History of the place is that the structure was built in an attempt to provide a rehab haven for juveniles who broke the laws of the time. The original watch tower still stands in the property. There is also a special cemetery, which we didn't see, for inmates who died at Preston Castle. It is located near the institution and approximately 23 graves are on site. We'd like to come back for a night tour one of these weekends! Review #0385 read more

See all

This review is for a private photoshoot ONLY My photographer booked the place for a private photoshoot for 2 hours. In those two hours, Patty was there to assist us with any questions and making sure we don't get lost. She was amazing. Anything we needed, she was right there to assist...5 stars for Patty. This wasn't the problem though. As the model, I was very uncomfortable with someone walking in the shoot just staring and asking some questions about my outfit. I know what I was wearing, WE knew what we were shooting. Some staff/volunteers walked by and didn't gawk at us. I know people have to walk in and around certain areas but ...keep on moving. We paid for a private shoot where we shouldn't have to worry about someone staring and/or asking us questions of what our outfit was. Honestly that might of messed up parts of our shoot because it made me very uncomfortable because one guy just kept staring at me. :( I feel like more action couldve been taken to prevent people from coming in and viewing a private session, i.e. a sign that says "do not enter, private session, etc" read more

We were here saturday night for the Castle fundraiser. It was basically a wine tasting and appetizer event with the $$$$ going back to help fund the Castle's ongoing needs / restorations, etc. We had not been there before this and lets say, it's a sight to behold. A beautiful old Castle. It has a both great and greatly horrible history. All I'll say is that it's amazing what we used to do to treat the mistreated and troubled. Anyway... Many local wineries participated. Most were excellent. Food went very quickly. It was definitely a party experience. As for the Castle. It's in dire, dire need of help. It is seriously falling apart. This shouldn't be allowed to happen. We were told that it would take at least 15 million in structural improvements to make it whole again. THEN, they could start working on the aesthetics of the interior. I find it difficult to believe that Amador County would let this piece of documented history to sit in the kind of state it's in. Sure people find it eerie as we did and that draws tons of people every year. That's all good but do something to keep the critters and birds out and at least make it safe enough to visit all of the floors again! No matter what, buy a book or two from the gift shop. Great history. Great reading. read more

Preston Castle - Museums Near Me - Ione, California

The Preston Castle is a fascinating place to visit! It's architecture itself is very impressive! Beautiful is an understatement. Several volunteers work tirelessly throughout the year to put on events, making sure every dime earned goes back into restoration and preservation. The Preston Castle Foundation was created to preserve this beautiful piece of history. The annual Preston Castle Haunt is spooky and fun during the weekends of October. 100% Volunteer run it brings people in by the thousands and sells out every year. While the Haunt is this beauties biggest fundraiser there are historical tours during the spring that are always interesting and fun to learn all about the history of the castle. I am always impressed but the work the volunteers put into preserving this 127 year Gem of Ione. All proceeds benefit the Castle and all events are 100% volunteer!! read more

Preston Castle - Preston School of Industry also known as the Preston Castle. - Museums Near Me - Ione, California

This could've been fantastic. I paid $200+ for 4 VIP tickets. The first 5 minutes in the castle were scary. Unfortunately the groups weren't spread out enough and inevitably backed up so we could see all of the scares ahead of time. 200 bucks for 5 minutes of scares? Never again. read more

Good boys stayed that way when they were told they would be sent to Preston School of Industry if they were bad; unreformed bad boys gained panache when they said they were sent to Preston. This amazing Romanesque Revival building was constructed between 1890-94 and closed when the new facility was constructed next door. This building is a CA Registered Landmark and also a National Register Landmark. The interior is in extreme disrepair from 50 years of neglect, and the exterior has some problems, but the tour is amazing. This building is worth saving, and perhaps if it is, the ghost that the travel channel program "Ghost Adventures" found there can rest. read more

See all

Just spent 2 wonderful hours at Preston Castle today. This place is amazing! A must for califonians! Here are some quick tips! Check website for open dates. Come exactly when it opens. Early or on time is best! Less people, more personal, and better views. It can get a little chilly inside so bring a light sweater. Body temp may increase during walking. Wear comfy shoes. Before visiting, learn about Preston! The more knowledge you have on this place the more intense the tour will be. Self guided tours are great! You get to go at your own pace..plus avoid being with a group of people all trying to see the same thing. There are docents available and they are more than happy to share a few stories and knowledge. Most of the staff here are volunteers. Please be courteous, kind, and respectful. Pick up after yourself, watch your kids, and don't leave any trash. Bring a camera read more

See all

Its awesome. The people who own the castle are truly wonderful and kind. On halloween they throw events that are really fun, but i wish we could record inside the castle, although i understand that phones could get lost and inconveniences could happen. But it would be nice to take some pictures inside the castle. they also throw Christmas events! Personally, i haven't been. But family and friends have and they had a fun time! Definitely recommend!! read more

Expectations were high and felt a little disappointed. Barely any actors actors and lots of empty space.

I had a great time. My husband didn't care for the fact the spooks were picking on women only, and we could see the VIP Line. We got there early when there wasn't a VIP line yet. We watched the VIP line grow to longer than our own line before we got in. He was pretty irritated by the time we got in, and the screaming women everywhere made it worse. He pointed out there were no screaming men. He mentioned it would have helped if they brought VIP people thru a different entrance. Didn't seem worth $30 extra to jump ahead in line. Now I wish I had paid it. read more