5:13 - The late 70's were my heyday, as a younger punk kid, my friends and I were able to climb up into and inside the tower. The bottom door was always locked shut, but at that time, there were no bars in the window openings, then. At the top of the tower, inside, was a bell with no rope on the ringer. Being the kids we were, we'd throw rocks up there to try and ring it. Midway inside the tower is a concrete ring that looks like it supported another floor, making it 3 floors if everything was restored. But, we weren't the only ones climbing up in there, other mischievous people graffiti'd the walls to no end, markers, paint can. Glad they barred it up. On another note, my mother told me a story when she was younger about the cross on top of the hill. Originally it was a wooden cross, but sometime during the 60's some vandals torched it. The new plaster/concrete one you see today, is the one put in place of the wooden one. Climbing around Mt Rubidoux, we kids found all sorts of little things up there in the trails that went through the rocks and dirt. For example, there was a boulder with a flat bottom resting on other rocks. Somebody dug out a crawl space that was just tall enough for kid sized people to crawl through. Who knows what has become of it today.
Thanks for another fun video. No politics, no drama. Just fun information and sights of local attractions. Keep up the good work! Looking forward to your next adventure!
The entrance on the mountain is actually near the cross, by the great steps, just to the right. They rolled a boulder over the opening and cemented the edges. The entrance in the 14st cemetary is in the old section of the lower plots. This was covered by a crypt and then later bricked over. The crypt is still there. And of course the purple glass imbedded in Riverside downtown sidewalks are actually sky lights for the old tunnels. These have broken and been paved over but several skylights are still present, some with the origonal glass.
Not a chance homie however I did find a secret room at Central middle School when they were doing construction on the old underground cafeteria. real riversiders like me probably have way more fascinating stories than you can even make up but please keep spreading the false propaganda
@@gregshilling6098 It is too bad. It’s an interesting story though. I kinda think real Riverside history is more interesting than this made up stuff though.
Born and raised in Riverside off of 14st actually me and friends used to ride our bikes up there then ride back down so fast was scary, then coast down to the Dairy at the bottom and by our treats , that's where the park is located now on that dairy farm, good times 60s early 70s
Great video! Riverside is my hometown and Mt Rubidoux is definitely an institution in the community. Lots of interesting history connected with the Mission Inn, but I don't think there were actual tunnels. It's an even better hike in the winter when it's more green. Just subscribed to your channel. Looking forward to more!
We have an area on the Santa Rosa Plateau and I didn't think there were tunnels either, but turns out there was. Anywhere by where there was an old base there's tunnels. In Carlsbad hotels had tunnels during prohibition connecting by the railroad and the hotels had speak easys hidden in them. I took my mom to the Mission Inn. It was really pretty.
Yes, there is/was tunnel's. I worked at mission inn. I was in the basement alot. Due to it being storage area. They went to the cemetery. And also went to a little people village. That use to be off La Sierra. There is also a secret bar.
@@gitanya80hurueta secret bar is a speak easy from prohibition times. They found those where I lived to with tunnels. Definitely the place has a different energy when you walk into the Mission Inn. Very pretty though.
How did I not know about this? I was born right there in Riverside, went to harvest Christian fellowship for a number of years. How did I not know there were catacombs there. I want to come back to California, just so I can explore this place. I am so stoked. I think this is my favorite episode ever. Thank you!
@@YahuahYahusha77 oh nice. I went there in the 80's lol I actually went when Greg Laurie was at rain cross square. Every Sunday eventing he had a band come and play it was like going to a concert with a message. ❤️
@@latinace1981 I would absolutely be doing that if I still lived in California. I moved from there in 1995 I still miss a lot about my home state. I miss being able to go to the ocean in less then an hour, and go the mountains in less then an hour. Lol I lived in Rialto. So I was close to EVERYTHING!
Back in the 60's that trail was a one way road that you could drive to the top and back down. At the time I had an MG and it was sure fun going up that road.
Ive lived in Riverside my whole life and this was really well done. The history along with the old photos and the B roll shots of the mountain itself, all very well done. I can remember going up to the cross (which I learned from this video is named the Serra cross!) at nighttime while in high school and acting a fool, and I must say, thank God I didnt see any hooded men walking the trails at night. I had a friend who lived at the foot of the mountain on 12th St who I can remember talking about the tunnels. One thing that you guys missed mentioning however, was the traditonal 4th of July Brush Fire on the mountain every year...lol I mean the annual 4th of July fireworks, but lets face it, it aint 4th of July in the Riv until Mt. Rubidoux has caught fire!
Could see the 4th of July fireworks on Mt Rubidoux for years from my house and the mountain brush caught fire 🔥 every time. This yr they did them at the Ryan Bonaminio Park. The park was named after a young police officer who was shot and killed at Fairmont Park. I use to walk this mountain every week but it has gotten so crowded now. Great that you highlighted it. Thank you.
@@latinace1981 on my Nextdoor App I've read to be wary and to go with others at night as it officially "closes" at dusk and the element of danger rises. Trying to go early morning even at 7 am is a joke.
@@lilshaz8378 I go around 8pm and there's so many families up there. So peaceful. I haven't gone early morning in forever. I sweat buckets so I just rather go when it's nice and cool lol
Another good one, Bethany and Drew! As Oddity Odysseys shows us viewers time after time, many interesting and/or bizarre projects from earlier times have faded into obscurity, or near-obscurity. And you take the time and make the effort to acquaint us with them. Can't begin to thank you enough.
There was talk of tunnel's all under Riverside . From Mission Inn to cemetery near by. To La Sierra. I use to work at Mission Inn. And use the basement to get storage items. Where the tunnels where. They had them blocked off. In the basement.
There are tunnels under Cal Baptist. I went there in the early 90s and the entrance was in the basement of the main building. A couple of friends and I saw how the hinges were loose on the door. So, we took the pins out and went in. Dusty, dirty and smelled bad. Nothing weird though.
Having lived in Riverside for many years, my friends and I rode our bikes up to the top and then coasted back down (the wrong way) and often met with vehicles coming up and had to stop suddenly. Years later I drove up and down, and once the right rear tire went over the side but came right back up onto it. One night, around 11p my buddy and I decided to hike to the top to view all the lights. We both carried a flashlight, and I when we got up to the tower on the east side, we stopped to rest for a minute. I raised my flashlight to take a look around and noticed what appeared to be an odd shaped rock with what appeared to be ears. As I fixed my light on it for a minute in an attempt to get a better idea of what I was looking at, the ears, and the head turned towards us and the two eyes glowed in the light of my flashlight. We had heard tales of mountain lions frequenting the mountain, so we quickly shut our lights off and began running straight down the side of the mountain. I was only wearing flip flops, and soon lost one in a bush that I couldn't avoid due to my speed. Upon reaching the bottom, we walked to a nearby house, and laid on the cool grass to catch our breaths. We never took another late night hike to the top for the rest of the years we lived there.
Living in the Deep South east the far west is so fascinating to me . Just endless adventures and no two panoramas a like! Love the view at the top of that Mountain- have never heard of it . Yes the more I read and study the more I’m amazed at the underground tunnels that lace this whole planet . How they were built and who built them is an ongoing mysteries . Keep hearing creepy stories about about reptilians in Southern California even the native Americans speak of them. As a Christian it does break my heart that there is such a determined push to tear down the crosses from Chapels , hills and war memorials now . I will always believe Christianity made this country great . Alexis De Tocqueville a French historian visted the U.S. in the 1830’s said if best : “ America is great because she’s Christian , when she ceases to be Christian she’ll cease to be great.” This prediction is proving accurate.
I once knew a guy who supposedly robbed a hoarded house in Riverside. According to this guy the hoarded house belonged to someone who use to work for the mayor of Riverside. During this robbery, he claimed to have come across a box of old documents that contained secrets to the catacombs. He talked about how there’s more than one entrance to the catacombs, it’s not just mount rubidoux. According to what he found the entrances can be found in the mission inn hotel, one of the museums in downtown and the church in community hospital by RCC. So get this! Riverside has a lot of cult activity, not only were the catacombs used for boot leggers back in the day but cults as well. He claimed that the tunnel that leads to the Riverside Community hospital was used a lot by these said ‘’cults’’ to steal new born babies that were pronounced stillborns, but were very much alive. Supposedly some of the hospital staff are part of these cults. After stealing the live babies that were pronounced dead,these babies would then be taken to the catacombs and into the river bottoms were they would be sacrificed to a “Green demon” that haunts a certain part of the mountains next to the dog park. At first I called “Bullshit” until I looked it up and found reports on people crashing their cars on the bridge next to the dog park and these people claimed that to have seen a green looking figure right before crashing their cars. It forsure gave me something to think about but at the end of the day these are just some really weird rumors I heard from someone who robs houses lol buuuuuuut I somewhat believe it to some extent because when I was walkin through the cemetery by mount rubidoux I actually stumbled upon a few graves that have that have a “free masons” logo as well as the baphomet pentagram, you can actually find a few of these gravestones scattered around if you guys ever walk through that grave yard. But as always these are just rumors 🤷🏽♂️
That’s is so crazy that mentioned this. My uncles 2nd child was born at the Riverside community hospital. And was pronounced a still born. But this was back in 2018. Really freaky to think about.
You two are so awesome! All my life, born and bred Californian, I never went to Mt. Rubidoux though I'd always heard of it. Now I can say I've been there kinda. I'm still throwing Satan's Castle in the San Bernardino mountains. It is just a cool, spooky place. Wherever you go I am going to truly enjoy seeing my home state! Thank you for another great video.
In the late 1980s, I used to live in the Palms Apartments (4575 Palm Ave.) at the base of Mt Rubidoux. I lived in Riverside for nearly 10 years (mainly near UCR) and never heard about the catacombs.
Glad to have you making videos again. Mt Rubidoux brought back memories of living in Riverside in the 80's. Back then we could still drive up the mountain. Also, Flabob airport is just across the riverbed from Mt Rubidoux. Learning to fly we would do our downwind following the river. We would stay at the altitude of the cross on the mountain until we were just past the cross, cut the engine, turn onto the base leg and complete the landing. So the cross was a handy navigation aid. On another note; if you go back and tour the Mission Inn, that area was the set for the 1981 movie "Buddy Buddy" with Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau. They built a fake front on the nearby buildings and the Mission Inn but you can still make it out. Keep up the cool adventures.
My dad used to drive us up there, and I truly believe that this is what triggered my fear of heights ! Lol 😂 those trails were so narrow and I always thought we would drive off the edge ! 🤣
@@YahuahYahusha77 I used to cry everytime we went over that bridge on mission, because I knew we were going up after that ! Lol 😂 Aww.. .seems like yesterday.
I remember in the early 60s going to Mt Rubidoux for sunrise Easter service. We went in the middle of the night and rested under big blankets until sunrise and the show
Awesome..in 1966 as a new boy scout our troop did a 10 mile hike for a bunch of us to earn merit badges..we included the trip up to the summit and back ..if I recall some of that surrounding neighborhood wasn't there...always good to see you folks..thanks
Back in the late 60's the entrance to passage was blocked by a massive flood from the Santa Ana River. The Mission Inn Entrance is still open and can be accessed in the lower basement of the Maid's quarters building on 6th Street. There is Bridge that attaches the main Mission Inn to the Maid's quarters that spans across 6th street. In the 70's the building was completely dilapidated except for a few little stores and we would gain Access to the lower basements thru a secret Floor door in the record store above the basements (Gordy's Hall Of Records) owned by Gordon Hall. Once in the first basement you find your way to the second basement thru a another secret maintenance opening. The ladders were not the best and because of water damage were not safe to use (but being young we did anyway). Once down in the lower basement you would walk thru 1 foot of water in the dark for about a mile thru a twisty and ornate passage way . If you hadn't been eaten by a Grue in the dark you will come across the caved in part of the tunnel and have to return.
Love the video about my neighborhood. I live at the foot of the mountain and my house will turn 100-years-old in June. But is a "newer" house in my neighborhood.
Love this video, I lived in Riverside for 7 years, but have been a regular visitor due to family since 1992, love the history, and how rich and spooky the stories of the past and present get.
@00:28 lmao Drew already cracking me up. This is beautiful guys, thank you. I need to find myself an explore buddy. Drew, you lucky bastard (with all due respect, of course) haha keep it coming guys!
Go to black star canyon in Orange County! It’s a pretty cool hike with a waterfall (seasonal I think), and it has similar paranormal creepy stories. Sorta interesting.
The parking area for Carlson Bark Park was one the road for a bridge crossing the river and there was a large fountain near that walled off area. The bridge was replaced and moved sometime in the 60's.
I grew up in Riverside, and have lived on both sides of the mountain. Going to a couple sunrise services as a teenager as well. The first time I hiked up the mountain, I was a little ish kid. My mom dropped me and a handful of prepubescent boys off at the foot, and just told up to be back at that spot in a few hours...times were different in the eighties lol. Up until recently ever 4th of July they set fireworks off from the top, and the mountain traditionally catches fire (some people watch for the fires more than the fireworks)....and another entrance to the alleged underground tunnels is in the cemetery at the foot of the mountain (though of course they're locked tight as well lol). Very cool presentation, thank you.
Cool my hometown when I was a kid through the '80s and '90s you were able to go to the back of the mission inn and there is an entrance and you were able to walk in pretty far but then you would hear things it was good times but of course too many people found out but it goes far and definitely towards the mountain
Always loved climbing this be careful where you park your car when visiting your stuff might not be there when you come back. Also late at night there will be cheek clapping happening up there
I went to college at Cal Baptist in Riverside in the early 90s. There are tunnels that run under that property. I have been in them once and didn't experience anything but dirt and darkness. The paranormal stuff when i was there occurred on the 4th floor of the main building, the lesser known 5th floor and the library. Seeing the parking lot below Rubidoux brought back memories of drinking before headed to Metro (RIP) that was like a second home for a while.
Thanks for such a great video, with the history you researched, drone video and cool location. Definitely want to visit this and many of the other places you’ve been to.
I just went earlier me and my cousin and we were by the cross I was using a app and I asked “hello” They responded back by “hey” And I asked “what did you used to take your own life away” It responded by “a gun” Crazy and I have a video of us recording and you can here like somebody humming in the back ground and there’s was no one besides us 2 cause it was already like 12:15 am at night
I use to hike there quite a bit. It's a common place for locals to get their daily exercise. Great views. The sunrise service for Easter is a good experience. Climbing the mountain before dawn is fun. Ryan Bonaminio was a police officer who tragically killed nearby in 2010.
What about the road leading to the top? Forty-five years ago we were visiting family in the Riverside area. We borrowed a car and drove around the area. We found the park and proceeded to take the narrow road up the side of the mountain - a road that got narrower and narrower, had no guard rails, no turn-around, and some washed out areas! The scariest ride we every have taken! Upon finally getting down, we told the story to our family. They were shocked that we drove up on that road as it was closed! Apparently, someone had taken down the barricades!
Great find and a must see. Thanks. Spend a lot of time in Palm Springs. Do sunrise service Easter on Mount San Jacinto too. People take the tram up. Great new Cali t shirt!
Yes there are old catacombs under Riverside. Been in them several times in the 60's. There was a small wax museum of Mission style folks and a hallway with artwork all down it. They used to have guided tours of the catacombs until the 60's, when they then closed it all off for safety reasons. There were lots of tunnels Mostly blocked off and many collapsed even in the early 60's. We once found one tunnel that went from the area under Calvary Presbyterian Church to the catacombs under the Mission Inn. That was the only long, uncollapsed tunnel we found. We used to explore the catacombs (and the Mission Inn) for hours at a time. The Mission Inn had lots of little one person wide staircases and passages so that the staff didn't travel in the customer hallways. Made it easy to sneak around and explore! Those were the days! Thanks for the trip up Mt. Rubidoux!
I've lived in riverside particularly Jurupa Valley for the past 29 years. There's no paranormal activity theres nothing like that at all. We have a creepy ass grave site right down the street from the mountain that's pretty much it. I've been there on halloween night walking the mountain with my gf and we have never experienced anything out of the ordinary. The one thing that is really trippy though is the orange groves in woodcrest I've heard several stories of little people living in the middle of all of it. So me and my friends went in one night and there is literally a burnt down little town in the middle of all the orange groves it was badass haha
Great video! I think it would be cool to see you guys do a video about the mission inn also! Its one of my favorite places to visit. I love the beauty and history of it, and it’s connection to mt. Rubidoux.
This was great! Very interesting and scenic; i am definitely going to have to research all of this; i never knew this. Thank you again for sharing and all you do for us!!
I live not too far from Mt Rubidoux, and I used to go up all the time to take pictures (haven't in a while for various reasons). The tower is somewhat typical of that immediate area as it's not too far from the Mission Inn, which has a lot of Spanish inspirations. There IS a lot of talk about it being haunted, so much so that it's just become part of the "local talk" and so frequent that people don't put too much thought in whether or not the rumors are valid or not. It's just a "people say it's haunted there, but who knows? We may find a ghost OoOoOhHhHh" sort of thing, at least with my family and the people I hung out with (not to dismiss any of the weird stuff that actually DOES go/went on there, but it's just such a common talking point that it's "normal" for those who live in and around Riverside).
Thanks Bethany and Drew for another wonderful adventure. I hope to visit this site on our next trip west. We live in the northern most part of West Virginia.
I lived at the Mission Inn for 6 and a half years. I know where the entrances are. The stories are true. Part of the catacombs leading to Mt. Rubidoux collapsed in the 1950's.
That's pretty cool! We had a family friend named Dan who lived there as well in the 70s when they were renting out the rooms as apartments. You probably have lots of interesting stories to tell...
I visited the Mission Inn with friends before when we were drunk. We read it was haunted online. Nothing paranormal happened as far as I’m aware but when the hotel manager found us, he found out we were looking for spooky stuff and he showed us a little bit of the catacombs. Pretty cool stuff!
Thanks for visiting rubidoux! I went to rubidoux high school. The bonaminio park is named after a police murdered at nearby Fairmount park. The catacombs I’ve been in as a former county employee. The police still use the tunnels for prisoners at Robert Presley but I believe most are shut off owned by the city and the wealthy Mission inn owners
There is a tunnel that goes from the back side of the court house (holding cells) to the tall county building. I personally have been through that tunnel a few times when I was a kid.
There is a tunnel that goes from Robert Presley Detention Center to the Hall of Justice on Main St. It goes from the transportation area of RPDC to holding cells in the Hall of Justice. From those holding cells one can get into an elevator that stops at the various courtrooms on each floor, except the elevator opens up on whatever floor youre going to not to a courtroom, but to more holding cells situated between 2 courtrooms on said floor. Dont ask me how I know. :/
@@derekbash5974 lol my mom still works for Riverside county and she’s been down there plenty of times even ran into my cousin down there once 😂 he’s got his life together very well now tho that place fixed him right up
Nice job on the video :) Although Mount Rubidoux is depicted on the U.S surveyors map in 1872 as being part of the Robidoux Ranch, It was known that the actual Mountain itself was not owned by Louis. Louis bought a section of Rancho Jurupa, in March of 1844, and then the San Jacinto tract in April the same year, not 1852. At the time of his land acquisitions in 1844 and prior, Mount Rubidoux was known as Pachappa or Pachappa Hill. Later it would be known as Huntington Park, then Frank A. Miller Mount Rubidoux Memorial Park in 1955. The original Serra is in the Mission Inn Saint Francis courtyard.
ABSOLUTELY There are catacombs all the way from MT Rubidoux to the Mission Inn. They are probably exactly where you were in those fake rocks and the ventilation system is that little hut thing. When I was a kid we used to run down there when the mission inn was open. There are no SPOOKY THINGS....that is a myth. but the Road used to be open to cars when I was a kid too. The catacomb entrance was open for a short minute while I was doing a remodel on the Rotunda area. I was going down there the next day but the next day they had already covered it up by the time I got there. THe Catacombs are dirt tunnels. cut into a perfect rectangle. to walk in. some have lights and conduit. some are completely dark. I think the one that went to Mt Rubidoux was covered up before I ever went in there.
Thank you for yet another interesting location! Too bad there is no access into the hill any longer. I’m sure that hatch led somewhere amazing :) You two are awesome!
You two are just awesome!! Your videos are both informative and fun. Have you ever explored the Donner Summit Snow Tunnels? You might enjoy the hike. Please keep up the great work and keep adventuring!!
