Castle Rock
Castle Rock is a haven for the outdoor enthusiast! Castle Rock State Park is located along the west bank of the Rock River in Ogle County, three miles south of Oregon, on Ill. The park is centrally located in the Rock River Hills region of Illinois, and its rolling topography is drained by the Rock River.
Plenty of Stephen King's works have been adapted into movies and TV shows, but Hulu's Castle Rockgoes all in by playing with several of the horror master's stories. The anthology show centers on the New England town of Castle Rock, a common location in King's stories. Its executive producers include J.J. Abrams and King himself, so its horror and mystery credentials are definitely in order.
Castle Rock's first season plays with themes from an assortment of King works, ranging from Needful Things toThe Shawshank Redemption. Likewise, it features deliciously King-themed casting, such It's Bill Skarsgård as a mysteriouscharacter known as the Kid and Sissy Spacek (who played the titular role in Carrie) as Ruth Deaver. As a neat twist, the season also features Jane Levy as Jackie Torrance, the niece of The Shining's Jack Torrance.
Castle Rock Studios
Season 2 ups the ante by introducing Lizzy Caplan as the disturbed Annie Wilkes (of Misery fame), as well as The Shawshank Redemption starTim Robbins as Castle Rock's resident criminal Pop Merrill — and Paul Sparks as his nephew Ace, whom you might remember as the villain of Stand By Me. The sophomore season also features memorable roles by actors like Barkhad Abdi, Yusra Warsama, and Elsie Fisher.
The show's a delicious concoction of reimagined King tales and settings taken in fresh new directions, and as such, it's a must-watch for the author's fans. Unfortunately, it seems that Castle Rock has told its last chilling story, because it won't be seeing a third season.
But why did this horror show meet such an untimely fate? Let's take a look at the real reason Castle Rock got canceled.
Castle Rock seems to have fallen victim to a corporate decision
As Deadline reported on November 3, 2020, Castle Rock appears to be a victim of circumstance. Warner Bros. Television handled the show's production anddistribution, but the company recently decided to shift its supply focus to HBO Max. Seeing as they both operate under the WarnerMedia umbrella, this was an understandable choice. However, the company moving away from Hulu also seems to be an ill omen for many Warner Bros.-made shows on the network.
As such, Castle Rock wasn't renewed after its second season, and there are currently no plans to bring the show on HBO Max. It's not the only show in this situation, either. As Deadline notes, shows like Marvel'sRunaways, rom-com series High Fidelity, science fiction comedy Future Man, and period drama Harlots have already met a similar fate.
Castle Rock Washington
This doesn't necessarily mean that the show's out of the game for good. After all, beloved genre shows like The Expansehave been known to find a new lease in life by making the jump on a new streaming platform. Even so, it's probably better to err on the side of caution and assume that Castle Rock is down for the count. Still, it was great as long as it lasted — and maybe, should the stars align, we'll one day find ourself back in King's charmingly creepy little town.
Castle Rock Season 3
Parking at Castle Rock State Park
The main Castle Rock parking lot at 15451 Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35) has been filling to capacity on weekends and holidays. In order to get a place to park and avoid a parking citation, please follow this advice:- Arrive Early - The earlier you arrive the better chance you have to find parking. Castle Rock State Park is open for day use from 6am to Sunset. Remember that all vehicles will need to pay an $10.00 parking fee so bring exact change to self-register in case you arrive before the entrance station opens.
- Come on a Weekday - Avoid the crowds and come during the week.
- Car Pool - Fewer cars your group brings, the more space we save for other parks users. Plus, its better for the planet
- Park in an Alterative Parking Area - There are a number of parking areas along Highway 9 south of Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35). These parking areas give access to the same great system of trails and are FREE to use. Check out the Park Map for locations of other parking areas.
- Take a Good Look for No Parking Signs - No parking signs are posted along Skyline Boulevard (Highway 35) to restrict parking in areas which impact or endanger others along the highway. Please look for no parking signs and do not park in restricted areas. Rangers and Highway Patrol Officers issue citations.
- Do Not Park in the Roadway - If you park along the highways, make sure ALL of your vehicle including side view mirrors are all the way out of the roadway to the right of the white line at the road edge.
By keeping in mind these tips, you should be able to avoid a parking citation and find a place to park and enjoy Castle Rock State Park.
Visiting Castle Rock
Castle Rock State Park is a land of sculpted sandstone, lush forests, and sweeping vistas. From one of the highest ridges in the Santa Cruz Mountains, park visitors enjoy hiking, backpacking, and horseback riding. Rock climbers explore the park's caverns and rocks, including the namesake Castle Rock. Plant-lovers come for California black oaks, knobcone pines, and high-elevation coast redwoods. The park’s 34 miles of rugged trails conveniently connect to an extensive trail system that links the Santa Clara and San Lorenzo valleys to nearby Big Basin Redwoods State Park and open space preserves on the Skyline to the Sea Trail.
Basic Park Information
*Please note there is no visitor center or store facilities at Castle Rock.
FEES: There is a $10 vehicle day-use fee. [Regular Sized Auto: $10 (Senior $9, age 62 or older); Bus Parking (10-24 passengers): $50; Bus Parking (25+ passengers): $100]
*Please bring cash*
NO CELL RECEPTION within the park and the surrounding area. Due to this, ridesharing services are not recommended.
ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS are available.
DOGS are prohibited throughout the park (except for service animals). Nearby Sanborn County Park allows dogs.
HORSES are allowed on Saratoga Toll Road which extends from Saratoga Gap to Big Basin Redwoods State Park.
BICYCLES are allowed on the Skyline Trail (Bay Area Ridge Trail) located on the north side of Highway 35.
DRONES are not allowed in the park. To protect wildlife and cultural resources, and for the safety and welfare of visitors and staff, the park is closed to the use of Model Aircraft, Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and Gliders in flight.
GLASS CONTAINERS are prohibited through out the park.
SMOKING is prohibited through out the park.
FIREARMS or any device capable of harming any person or animal are prohibited— including BB guns, spears, bows, arrows and slingshots.
FIRES are permitted only in designated fire rings in the Castle Rock Trail Camp during the OFF fire season. Gathering firewood, including twigs and leaves, is prohibited. Firewood is sold at the Castle Rock Trail Camp.
RESPECT PRIVATE PROPERTY rights and stay on designated trails.
NATURAL & CULTURAL FEATURES ARE PROTECTED BY LAW - Do not pick wildflowers, mushrooms, or other plants, or remove any park features. Do not deface rocks with graffiti or feed, disturb, or harm wildlife.
WEDDINGS, PARTIES, AND SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS please call (831) 335-6324 or email mtnspecevent@parks.ca.gov.