Santa Rita Jail, county jail in Dublin, Alameda County, California
Santa Rita Jail is a large county detention facility in Dublin, California, covering about 113 acres with multiple housing units spread across the grounds. The complex can hold up to 3,500 inmates and includes a central control center, dining facilities, laundry services, and a substantial solar panel system covering the rooftops to provide renewable energy.
Santa Rita Jail opened in 1989 on the grounds of a former World War II naval base called Camp Shoemaker, replacing an older prison system. Construction of the modern campus-style facility began in the 1980s and was overseen by Sheriff Charles Plummer to provide better organization and security.
Visits are allowed only by appointment and subject to strict security procedures and visitor eligibility rules. Check in advance for current visiting hours since they are limited and additional screening takes place at the entrance.
Behind the facility lies a range used for explosive testing that gained fame as the filming location for the TV series MythBusters. Crew members there conducted large-scale explosion and projectile tests, sometimes accidentally damaging nearby structures or vehicles from the impact of flying objects.
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