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All the United States Arizona Phoenix Mystery Castle

Mystery Castle

A self-built castle made by a mysterious man.

Phoenix, Arizona

Added By
Mike Bison
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  gingercinnamon / Atlas Obscura User
Tile and cobweb   Avoiding Regret
Window and tile   Avoiding Regret
  knoxium / Atlas Obscura User
Mystery Castle   ccesare / Atlas Obscura User
  gpg70 / Atlas Obscura User
  Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Looking out to Phoenix   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Plaque   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
Mystery Mansion   Jason Michael Walker / Atlas Obscura User
  gpg70 / Atlas Obscura User
  gpg70 / Atlas Obscura User
  knoxium / Atlas Obscura User
  knoxium / Atlas Obscura User
  knoxium / Atlas Obscura User
  Mark Loftin / Atlas Obscura User
Aztec tile and “clinker” bricks   Avoiding Regret
  gingercinnamon / Atlas Obscura User
  gingercinnamon / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Mystery Castle was built by Boyce Luther Gulley over a 15-year period. The mystery in Mystery Castle, is what compelled Gulley to abandon his job, wife, and his one-year-old daughter and set off to build the castle.

Gully disappeared altogether for three years before turning up in Phoenix and beginning work on the castle. The Castle is said to be held together by a combination of mortar, cement, and goat milk, and built from a wide range of materials including stone, adobe, automobile parts, salvaged rail tracks, and telephone poles. Despite having 18 rooms, 13 fireplaces, and numerous parapets, until recently, the castle had no running water or electricity.

In 1945, Gulley's abandoned wife and daughter received a call from a lawyer. They learned of Gulley's recent death, the first they had heard of Gulley since his disappearance, and of the castle he had built, which was now rightfully theirs.

Gulley's daughter, who died in 2010, lived in the castle and gave tours with her granddaughter for many years.

Update January 2025: According to Mystery Castle's website, tours have been suspended until further notice.

Related Tags

Eccentric Homes Outsider Architecture Homes

Community Contributors

Added By

mbison

Edited By

annakovach, mmiraglia, karenthorla, culinaryevangelist...

  • annakovach
  • mmiraglia
  • karenthorla
  • culinaryevangelist
  • Avoiding Regret
  • knoxium
  • Mark Loftin
  • gingercinnamon
  • ccesare
  • Jason Michael Walker
  • gpg70

Published

March 27, 2010

Updated

January 3, 2025

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Sources
  • http://www.mymysterycastle.com/
Mystery Castle
800 E Mineral Rd
Phoenix, Arizona, 85042
United States
33.356791, -112.061915
Visit Website
Get Directions

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