Malibu Castle Destroyed by Blaze; Arson Blamed

A week after it closed for business, an amusement arcade popular for decades with area teenagers was gutted by fire and authorities said arson is to blame.

The blaze, reported about 7:20 p.m. Sunday, destroyed the central arcade building at the Malibu Castle, 12400 Vanowen St.

Investigators have determined that the fire was intentionally set, said Bob Collis, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department. He declined to elaborate on investigators’ findings.

No one was injured in the fire, Collis said. Damage was estimated to be $150,000.

Monday morning, children and adults alike gathered outside to inspect the damage and remember summer days and nights spent at the amusement center.

Randall Long, 21, recalled how his father had taught him to play miniature golf at the park.

Beverly Martinez, 20, talked about how as a teenager she went on dates to Malibu Castle.

“Everybody would hang out here,” she said. “Guys would meet girls. Girls would meet guys.”

“No more,” Jesse Avila said wistfully, surveying the damage as he listened to his friends. “I hope they build another one. Bigger and better.”

Residents said the park, which also featured batting cages, a video game parlor and go-cart track, had been around for several decades.

“When I was growing up, my friends and I came here a lot,” said Skip Graybehl, 35, of North Hollywood.

Graybehl said he watched flames engulf the structure Sunday night and came back Monday to see the result.

“It was intense,” he said of the fire, which could be seen several blocks away.

A tape recording on the answering machine at Malibu Castle informed callers that the park closed as of Aug. 31, and referred patrons to Mountasia Family Fun Center in Santa Clarita.

Courtney Bourdas, a manager at Mountasia, said Malibu Castle and Mountasia were among a handful of Southern California entertainment centers owned by Dallas-based Malibu Entertainment Worldwide Inc.

Bourdas said she was unaware of Sunday’s fire.

“That’s just bizarre,” she said. “We just closed over there.”

Officials with the park’s corporate owner could not be reached for comment.