Atlas Obscura
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The Witch’s Castle in Portland
February 10, 2016 - From tales of murder to bathrooms to the site of high school keggers, the ruins that are now known as The Witch's Castle have lived a number of lives, and none of them were very pleasant. In the mid-1800s, well before the structure was built, a man named Danford Balch bought a large portion of land around the area while Portland was still in the process of being developed.
abandoned structure in Portland, Oregon's Forest Park
Factsheet
Alternative names Macleay Park Shelter
Witch's Castle
Witches Castle
Witch's Castle
Witches Castle
General information
Type unmaintained
Public toilet
pavilion
storage
Public toilet
pavilion
storage
Alternative names Macleay Park Shelter
Witch's Castle
Witches Castle
Witch's Castle
Witches Castle
General information
Type unmaintained
Public toilet
pavilion
storage
Public toilet
pavilion
storage
Oregon Essential
oregonessential.com › home › visiting the witch’s castle (a portland rite of passage)
Visiting the Witch's Castle (A Weird Portland Rite of Passage)
November 30, 2025 - How to find the Witch's Castle in Portland's Forest Park. Trail directions, history, parking tips, and what to expect at this mossy stone ruin.
The Witch's Castle in the woods of Oregon
I think I have been there! thats the old ranger station in a park in Portland is that correct? More on reddit.com
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September 15, 2023The witches castle in Portland. There is a bunch of creepy lore surrounding it.
The lore said The house belong to a guy named Danfod Balch. In 1850, Batch hired a guy named Mortimer Stump to help clear the land. They both worked close to each other. Unfortunately, Stunp is said to fall in love with Balch 15 year old daughter, Anna. They asked Balches blessing to get married, but he refused and threaten to kill Stump if he carried on. Anna and Mortimer ran off to Vancouver, where they were married in November 1858. Later, they returned to Portland for supplies. They encountered Balch, who shot Stump dead with his shotgun. Balch claimed his wife bewitched him to kill Stump to Bring his daughter home. He was arrested but escaped and hide out in his property for 6 months before he was caught. He was convicted of murder and was hanged on October 17,1859. It was the first legal hanging in Oregon.balch wife continued to live in the house after his death and his land was divided among his children. According to stories, their spirits continued to haunt the land, both wanting revenge. The building is actually a ranger station and restrooms and was built during the great depression. It was abandoned and fell into disrepair. The roof was blown off during a bad storm. More on reddit.com
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March 3, 2020The Witch's Castle
This is a photo of the Witch's Castle I took back in the spring of 2018, what an insane difference. More on reddit.com
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August 4, 2025Witch Castle
That looks like an awesome place :) More on reddit.com
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January 2, 202445:09
The History of Portland's Witch's Castle - YouTube
The Witch's Castle is a local favorite with an eerie history.
Escape to the woods in style with gothic witch cabin rentals ...
The Witch's Castle in Portland, OR is an abandoned house ...
11:25
🧙♀️ This GERMAN Town EXECUTED Witches (Fairytale Houses ...
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The Witch's Castle is a local favorite with an eerie history. - ...
Americamybeautiful
americamybeautiful.com › witchs-castle-portland
How to Visit the Witch’s Castle in Portland, Oregon
Along a hiking trail in the middle of the forest lies a ruined stone house decorated in moss and clouded in mystery. I’m talking about the Witch’s Castle in Portland, Oregon, one of the weirdest sites in a city that celebrates the weird. Brave enough for a visit?
All That's Interesting
allthatsinteresting.com › haunted-castles
Haunted Castles: 9 Ghostly Fortresses Around The World
November 4, 2025 - But these surreal stories are just the beginning. Take a look at several more of the world’s most haunted castles below. ... Moosham Castle is located in the forests of central Austria, about 40 miles north of the country...
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Stone_House_(Portland,_Oregon)
Stone House (Portland, Oregon) - Wikipedia
2 weeks ago - Kale Williams included the Stone House in The Oregonian's 2017 list of the sixteen "coolest and creepiest abandoned places" in the Pacific Northwest. Williams described the structure as a popular resting spot for hikers and wrote, "For better or worse, the so-called Witches Castle is periodically ...
Portland Ghosts
portlandghosts.com › home › blog › the witch’s castle
The Witch's Castle - Portland Ghosts
December 5, 2025 - Discover the mysterious Witch's Castle in Portland, Oregon, where people still experience a dark and heavy energy.
Facebook
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The Witches castle near Portland, Oregon.
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KEAN 105
keanradio.com › the-witches-castle-in-waco-texas
The Truth Behind the Witch's Castle Found in Central Texas
October 17, 2023 - The Witch's Castle of central Texas is a story that reaches back to the early 1900s, and gained more popularity beginning in 1961. Here's why.
Facebook
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Witches Castle. Portland Oregon
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Facebook
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Witches Castle of Cameron Park in Waco, Texas #spooky ...
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Axios
axios.com › local › portland › 2025 › 10 › 31 › the-haunted-past-of-portland-s-witch-s-castle
The haunted past of Portland's Witch's Castle - Axios Portland
October 31, 2025 - The bottom line: The Witch's Castle is now a popular landmark along Wildwood Trail, but some hikers have walked away with a supernatural sense of unease.
The Lineup
the-line-up.com › home › the gloomy ghosts of the witch’s castle
The Gloomy Ghosts of the Witch's Castle - The Lineup
August 13, 2021 - Located in Forest Park between Portland and Beaverton, the Witch’s Castle sits alongside Balch Creek, near the junction of Wildwood Trail and the Lower Macleay Trail. The land where it stands was once owned by Danford Balch, who leant the nearby creek its name.
Abiqua Falls
ihitthebutton.com › home › visiting the witch’s castle in portland, oregon (hiking guide)
Visiting the Witch's Castle in Portland, Oregon (Hiking Guide)
September 15, 2023 - In 2017 the Stone House got its name as the Witch’s Castle after local news reported teens having parties at the Stone House as “Witches”. The Witch’s Castle has since become a popular tourist attraction and typically covered in graffiti and moss.
Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Witch's_Castle
Witch's Castle - Wikipedia
July 24, 2025 - Stone House (Portland, Oregon), a derelict structure, formerly a restroom, in Portland, Oregon's Forest Park commonly referred to as Witch's Castle · The Three Witches, a South Korean television series
Inkedwithwanderlust
inkedwithwanderlust.com › other › witchescastleportland
How To Hike to Witches Castle (Stone House) in Portland Oregon — Inked with Wanderlust
March 18, 2026 - On the way to the castle, you’ll be treated to non-stop views of multiple cascades running through moss covered rocks and downed branches. It’s like stepping into a fairytale novel (similar to Mossbrea Falls in California). Before you’ll know it, you’ll arrive at Witches Castle at around ...
TheTravel
thetravel.com › home › destinations › this u.s. city's "witch's castle" is full of creepy lore and legends
This U.S. City's "Witch's Castle" Is Full Of Creepy Lore And Legends
March 27, 2025 - Fueled by legend, Oregon's Witch's Castle is known throughout the state, and as such, visiting the Witch's Castle is somewhat of a Portland rite of passage. Located in the Oregon Woods, it's relatively easy to get to from the city center and ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/pics › the witch's castle in the woods of oregon
r/pics on Reddit: The Witch's Castle in the woods of Oregon
September 15, 2023 - Yeah that’s it. I live right near there and have been many times! https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-witches-castle-portland-oregon
Instagram
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The Witch's Castle
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Secret Hike
secrethike.com › post › the-remains-witchs-castle
The Remains of Witch's Castle - Secret Hike
October 5, 2021 - The Witch's Castle is directly on path of the Wildwood Trail making it easy accessible and easy to find. Enjoy walking around the castle remains and stairs, you can continue along the pathways further once finished or head back the way you came in.
Facebook
facebook.com › groups › ForgottenOregon › posts › 4188478648086708
Macleay Park "Witches Castle" history facts
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