Mystery Castle was built in the 1930s by Boyce Luther Gulley (died 1945) for his daughter Mary Lou Gulley. A Google Earth Map search marks the entrance to the "Mystery Castle" at 33o 21' 22.88" N 112o 03' 44.26" W. The elevation is about 1332 feet. After learning he had tuberculosis, Gulley moved from Seattle, Washington, to the Phoenix area and began building the house from materials that he either found or purchased for a very low price. Making a strange type of cement from a mixture of mortar, cement, calcium, and goat milk; Gulley built the sprawling 18-room, three story castle from a wide range of materials�stone, adobe, automobile parts, salvaged rail tracks from a mine, telephone poles, etc. The castle even has a chapel, a cantina, and a dungeon. Parts of the castle still remain unfinished, and its electricity and plumbing weren't added until sometime in 1992. The castle is even built on top of an old gold mine. After Boyce Gulley died in 1945; Mary Lou and her mother were notified by his attorney that they had inherited the property. Shortly afterward, the mother and daughter moved in. A Life Magazine, January 26th, 1948 cover story used the headline, "Life Visits a Mystery Castle: A Young Girl Rules Over the Strange Secrets of a Fairy Tale Dream House in the Arizona Desert." The magazines cover photograph featured Mary Lou posing atop the cantilever staircase leading to the roof of the house. During that same year, Mary Lou and her mother began offering tours of the home. This story attracted national attention, giving the home some notoriety as well as its exotic name: "Mystery Castle." Mary Lou Gulley, still resided there; when George DeLange met with her on January 16, 2010. And although too weak to lead tours herself, she was often present in the house, while other guides conducted the tours. But, Mary Lou Gulley, the resident princess and proprietress of the Mystery Castle, passed away on November 3, 2010. She was very kind, we will miss her! The "Mystery Castle" has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride. Famous people who have visited the Castle include: Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, & Ronald Reagan. President Eisenhower received a tour of the house when he was President. President Clinton tried to get a tour, but Miss Gulley, who had the flu, turned him away. Address:800 E Mineral Rd, Phoenix, AZ. Directions:I-10 exit 155. East on Baseline Rd for 5.5 miles. Turn south onto 7th St. for 1.5 miles. At the end of the street, turn left onto Mineral Rd to get to the Castle. Golf courses and gated communities are being built up to the edge of the Mystery Castle desert property. Hours:Thu-Su, 11 am - 4 pm. Oct-Jun. Closed on very rainy days. Steep Steps. (Call to verify) Phone:602-268-1581 Our pictures can't do this Castle justice, you must visit it, to really appreciate this monument.

If you are planning to visit the "Mystery 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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