The Moment She Found a Castle in the Arizona Desert

It's not out of the ordinary to find strange and unusual in the Arizona desert. The sprawling variety of cactus and resilient wildlife is expected.

But I was shocked to learn that the Arizona desert harbored a secret that one would expect to find in the Scottish Highlands or the Black Forest—not in the middle of the desert in the Phoenix Foothills.

Why is There a Castle in the Arizona Desert?

In the foothills of South Mountain Park in Phoenix, there's a mysterious building. It's known as the Mystery Castle. This structure captured the imaginations of locals and visitors for decades. The story behind it is as intriguing as its architecture.

Why the Castle was Built in Arizona

So, why is there a castle in the desert in Arizona? The Mystery Castle was built by Boyce Luther Gulley sometime in the 1930s.

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After being diagnosed with tuberculosis, Gulley left his family in Seattle and moved to the dry desert climate of Phoenix, hoping it would improve his health. During his time in the desert, he began building a castle for his daughter, Mary Lou, using found and recycled materials. Gulley worked tirelessly on the castle until he died in 1945. The castle is a legacy of love and creativity to his daughter.

How Big is the Mystery Castle?

The Mystery Castle contained 18 rooms and 13 fireplaces. There's a chapel and even a dungeon.

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The castle was built from a wide range of materials, including stone, adobe, and even automobile parts. You can see the resourcefulness and ingenuity in every corner of the castle, from the intricate mosaics made of colorful glass and pottery shards to the unique furniture crafted from salvaged wood.

A Living Museum

You can visit the Mystery Castle. It's open to the public, and you can take guided tours to see the vision behind the eccentric creator.

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The rooms hold quirky artifacts and personal mementos that tell the story of Gulley's life and his love for his daughter. The castle hasn't changed much since Mary Lou lived there until she died in 2010. The rooms are preserved like a museum filled with historical and sentimental value.

Plan a Visit to the Mystery Castle in Phoenix

This is more proof you never know what you'll find in the Arizona desert - a scorpion, a saguaro cactus, or a multi-room, eclectic castle. Anything is possible.

If you plan to visit the Phoenix Mystery Castle, check out the website for hours and tour information.

Sources: Atlas Obscura | Google Maps | Wikipedia | MysteryCastle.com

Images: House Outside: By ksblack99 - Side of House, Public Domain, Wikipedia Commons. Interior: By Marine 69-71 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikipedia Commons.