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Atlas Obscura
atlasobscura.com › home › all destinations › the united states › oregon › portland › the witch’s castle
The Witch’s Castle in Portland | Atlas Obscura
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
Wildwood Trail, Portland, OR 97210
The Stone House, also known as the Macleay Park Shelter and the Witch's Castle or Witches Castle, is a two-story structure in Portland, Oregon's Forest Park, in the United States. The Bureau … Wikipedia
Factsheet
Alternative names Macleay Park Shelter
Witch's Castle
Witches Castle
General information
Type unmaintained
Public toilet
pavilion
storage
Factsheet
Alternative names Macleay Park Shelter
Witch's Castle
Witches Castle
General information
Type unmaintained
Public toilet
pavilion
storage
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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)
1 week ago - 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.
Discussions

The 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
🌐 r/creepy
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March 3, 2020
The 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
🌐 r/Portland
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August 4, 2025
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
🌐 r/pics
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September 15, 2023
Witch Castle
That looks like an awesome place :) More on reddit.com
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January 2, 2024
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Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Stone_House_(Portland,_Oregon)
Stone House (Portland, Oregon) - Wikipedia
March 21, 2026 - The Stone House, also known as the Macleay Park Shelter and the Witch's Castle or Witches Castle, is a two-story structure in Portland, Oregon's Forest Park, in the United States. The Bureau of Parks commissioned architect Ernest F. Tucker to design the public toilet, pavilion, and storage ...
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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?
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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.
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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.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/creepy › the witches castle in portland. there is a bunch of creepy lore surrounding it.
r/creepy on Reddit: The witches castle in Portland. There is a bunch of creepy lore surrounding it.
March 3, 2020 - "Yo bro want to sneak into the witches house in Washington Park a and smoke a fat one?" - Your average Portland kid. ... I grew up in Portland. Macleay park was the scene of many a high school party. ... This place looks familiar. ... I went there by myself at 3am and it was pretty fun. ... Castle!?
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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.
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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.
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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
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TheTravel
thetravel.com › home › destinations › oregon's witch's castle is fueled by legend, but is there any truth to it?
Oregon's Witch's Castle Is Fueled By Legend, But Is There Any Truth To It?
October 18, 2023 - The Witch's Castle, located in the Oregon woods, is said to be haunted by the spirit of Balch and has become a popular destination for visitors seeking thrills.
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Tripadvisor
tripadvisor.com › united states › oregon (or) › portland › portland - things to do › macleay park
Path to the Witches Castle - Review of Macleay Park, Portland, OR - Tripadvisor
Macleay Park
Macleay Park: Path to the Witches Castle - See 14 traveler reviews, 36 candid photos, and great deals for Portland, OR, at Tripadvisor. I had read about the park and pathway to the Witches Castle and was excited to do this walk. When I looked down into the valley were we would be walking, it was a bit daunting. Please don’t let that stop you from doing this walk. I’m not in the fittest condition of my life, and I was wearing a dress and slip on shoes, but it was a fairly easy walk down to the castle from the Upper Macleay parking lot. I was a bit stressed because of the incline, knowing I woul
Rating: 5 ​
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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 ...
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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 - Though it's not known who exactly coined the name, it's been commonly referred to as the Witch's Castle — perhaps due to its run-down nature and remote location — by high schoolers who would go there to party in the decades after.
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Pinterest
pinterest.com › dekvall › witch-castle
150 Witch castle ideas in 2025
The Flying Monkeys · Flying Monkey Silhouette · Avatar Floating Mountains · Wizard Of Oz Tornado Scene · Flying Monkeys Wizard Of Oz · Spooky Castle On Cliff · Wicked Oz Castle · Wicked Witch Of The West Aesthetic · Wicked Witch Castle · Angmar Fortress ·
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PDX SEO
pdxseo.net › need-know-witches-castle-portland
What You Need To Know About The Witches Castle In Portland
March 4, 2018 - What You Need To Know About The Witches Castle In Portland If you are in Portland and you are interested in haunted historical sites, then you are going to want to take the time to visit the Witch's Castle where you will find stone ruins that ...
Price   $ - $$$
Address   5440 SW Westgate Dr #364, 97221, Portland