Kids Castle will serve as an additional after-school program location for Gridley Unified School District. Photo by Seti Long

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Children often received the royal treatment at Kids Castle, a local preschool and daycare formerly owned and operated by Aminah Khan and Joan Clarke before its recent closure.

Kids Castle featured a playful castle-like exterior with brightly colored stained-glass windows and pointed turrets. Its central location between Wilson Elementary School, McKinley Elementary School and Sycamore Middle School allowed instructional aides to walk children to and from classes, a benefit for families with split-day education schedules. For parents, the facility offered safe, dependable and competitively priced childcare.

Kids Castle celebrated its final day of operation Oct. 31, 2025.

Before the closure, Khan told the Gridley Herald that after-school programs offered by local schools had significantly affected enrollment.

The Butte County Office of Education currently provides after-school programs at McKinley, Wilson and Sycamore schools, offering supervision, homework time and activities until 5:30 p.m.

Despite the closure of Kids Castle, the building will continue serving the community’s youth.

Gridley Unified School District identified an opportunity in the property, which is located on the same block as Wilson Elementary School and the district office.

The Gridley Unified School District Board voted unanimously at its Jan. 21 meeting to lease the building as additional space for transitional kindergarten and kindergarten students needing after-school supervision.

The district agreed to a 17-month lease term beginning Feb. 1. Rent for the space will cost the district $6,000 per month, paid to property owners Rasheed and Aminah Khan.

Gridley’s elementary school sites are struggling to accommodate a growing student population, Superintendent Justin Kern said.

“It’s a great thing for the community and families,” Kern said, adding the additional space will be beneficial.