Mystery Castle, Stone castle in South Mountain Park, Phoenix, United States.
Mystery Castle is a residential structure containing eighteen rooms and thirteen fireplaces, constructed from stone, automobile parts, railroad tracks, telephone poles, and assorted recycled materials. The building combines these diverse elements into a functional home with walls, doorways, and spaces that remain intact and fully accessible today.
The castle was built by Boyce Luther Gulley beginning in the 1930s after he relocated from Seattle to Phoenix for health reasons. He dedicated the project to his daughter Mary Lou, creating a family dwelling that would last for generations.
The castle represents a personal vision built brick by brick, and it stands as a reminder of individual creativity in the Arizona landscape. Today, visitors experience how one person transformed recycled materials into a living space, reflecting a philosophy of resourcefulness and determination.
The site sits on the edge of town and is most easily reached by car, as access requires driving along a winding mountain road. Visits are conducted only with a guide, and visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the tour involves walking through multiple levels and rooms.
A notable feature is the second-floor wishing well that was once connected to a ground-level bar through a pulley system designed to move drinks between levels. This detail reveals the builder's ingenuity in solving everyday needs with improvised engineering.
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