Phoenix

Travelers' Takes

Rates and Deals

Mystery Castle

More Photos
nmagann
nmagann
First Reviewer
3 out of 5
Avg. Member Rating
1
Review
11
Photos

No Mystery At All

  • September 26, 2009
  • Rated 3 of 5 by nmagann from Ventura, California
No Mystery At All

A man by the name of Boyce Gulley left his wife after learning he had TB and wound up building a monument to them in Phoenix. The family learned of it from an attorney after he died.

Inside there are built-in nooks and crannies that serve as shelves for nic-nacs and photos. But there are also items like furniture from famous people such as John Wayne, Barry Goldwater and Frank Lloyd Wright. Overall there are 18 rooms and 13 fireplaces.

Although the home was erected in 1930, it was interesting to note how remote the location remains within Phoenix. Obviously urban sprawl did not occur in all directions.

The mystery castle name is rather misleading. A castle it isn’t, and I would say innovative or creative in lieu of mystery.

Being built at the base of the mountain, you could walk into the front, but not out the back. The windows at the back were a matter of feet from ground view. In essence looking out the window at a coyote walking by, you would only see the paws. Perhaps akin to a basement window.

The house was constructed from stone, concrete and recycled materials such as bottles. Round windows formed from old spoke wagon wheels created a rustic western appearance. This was fitting for the room that was essentially a bar used for entertaining guests. The dimly lit room had a long bar and wine rack on one side and a pile of sand with old bones and a tombstone on the other.

If you had one too many, but not enough for your own RIP sign, the room next door was used for weddings. A tradition of leaving one of the bride’s shoes behind for good luck had began. This resulted in some interesting shoes. There was one with buttons sewn all over it, one covered in red sequins, a boot with lace and many more.

Passing through a catwalk of sorts, was a bedroom still containing odd items like the rest of the place. While looking down at the bed I had the feeling of a presence. I turned around to see an old lady sitting in a chair by the window. At first I thought it was a dummy like the one propped up in the bar. In fact she was real and is the daughter who continues to live there even though tours come through.

How would you like to having strangers traipsing through your house as if you didn’t exist.

From journal Phoenix DAY & NIGHT

Compare Phoenix Rates

1. Enter travel information

City

2. Select websites to compare rates

Each selected website will open a new window.

Phoenix Travel Deals