Mt. Rubidoux

Mt. Rubidoux is a hill next to the Santa Ana River which marks the boundary between the city of Riverside, California and the census-designated place of Rubidoux. It rises to an elevation of 2655 feet above sea level.

This Mountain is a part of Riverside's darker history - with tunnels that ran through the core of the mountain to a subterranean system of tunnels that bivouacked downtown Riverside. They were Built by Chinese rail workers back in the early 1900's and were used to smuggle alcohol to the upscale community housed on the mountain slopes. Near the infamous FOX theater that first debuted Gone With the Wind. In the early 1990's the city had the caves cemented in to cover up it's shady past. Though the legends live on though threw locals. Frank Miller (the builder of the famous Mission Inn)had some very interesting acquaintances - Al capone and local businessman Sebastian Benedict were partners with Miller in several underground bootlegging ventures. The photos don't lie and neither do the stills in Poppet Flats not 30 miles out of Riverside. The Mountain served as a watch towards the hills with the stills. As the shipments would come down the hill by flatbed or wagon the sheriff, the Mayor, Mr Miller, and Mr Benedict were notified and paid then the shipment would be offloaded in the Mission Inn - stored in the extensive cellars, then barreled out to several parishioners in town. Riverside being a dry county found a favorable fortune in boot legging. By the time the 1930's swung into the full depression - Benedict had secured a fortune and had built his castle in Canyon Crest area of Riverside and it is still there today being used as a drug rehab ironically - there is a mysterious cave somewhere in the city's bowels that is supposed to house a large portion of valuable goods stored by Capone before he was taken to Alcatraz - the cavern is called Capone's locker and has never been officially found.