Tovrea Castle sits atop a cactus-covered hill shaped like a huge tiered wedding cake. Tovrea Castle was built by Alessio Carraro from 1928 to 1930 and it features a desert garden known as the "Carraro Cactus Garden." Tovrea Castle was sold shortly after its construction to the Phoenix cattle baron, Edward A. Tovrea. The castle and its surrounding 44 acres is now owned by the City of Phoenix. It has been officially named Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights in recognition of the families that were associated with its history. Tovrea Castle fell into disrepair in 1969 but it is now being restored and it has been officially named Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights in recognition of the families associated with its history. The Cararro Cactus Gardens was originally constructed over a period of several years starting in about 1930. However the once-lush Cararro Cactus Gardens slowly withered after the Castle was vacated in 1969. In early 2006 restoration on the cactus garden started and it is expected to open again in about November of 2010. The Castle is tentatively scheduled to open to the public in the late fall of 2010. The scheduled tours of the Castle grounds and the Carraro Cactus Gardens are tentatively scheduled to start in November and run through April. The tour participants will get to see the castle up close during the Cactus Garden Tours, but will not be able to go inside the castle. The Carraro Cactus Garden tours are subject to cancellation based on minimum registrations, weather and staffing availability. The cost is to be $15.00 per person ages 8 to adult. A Google Earth Map search marks the top of the roof of the Tovrea Castle at 33o 26' 53.19" N 111o 58' 18.37" W. The elevation is about 1233 feet. The Tovrea Castle has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 28, 1996. Directions: Take the 202, get off at the 52nd St./Van Buren exit. Turn right (west) onto Van Buren, then turn left (south) at the driveway of the Tovrea Castle and Carraro Cactus Garden gate entrance. Address: 5041 E Van Buren St.; Phoenix, AZ. Hours: Phone: 602-256-3221

If you are planning to visit Tovrea Castle, And if you are coming from outside of Arizona, you could fly into the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and then rent a car. There are many hotels and motels in the area. We have some links to Priceline.com on this page since they can arrange all of your air flights, hotels and car. We also have some links to Altrec.com on this page since they are a good online source for any outdoor camping gear and clothing that you may need. We of course, appreciate your use of the advertising on our pages, since it helps us to keep our pages active.

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