Summary
Mystery Castle is a Phoenix Point of Pride, named as such by the Phoenix Pride Commission. It was built by Boyce Luther Gulley, who abandoned his wife and daughter in Seattle, circa 1927, after learning that he had tuberculosis. He traveled to Phoenix and started building a “castle” that he had promised to his little girl once while constructing sand castles on a beach. Mary Lou Gulley was a toddler when her father unexpectedly left and never returned.
Boyce Gulley Built It
Boyce Gulley lived longer than he thought he would, and he spent 15 years building his dream house. Interestingly enough, he did not die of tuberculosis.
I have already explained why the house is referred to as a castle, but why is it a mystery? Boyce Gulley left instructions for his wife and daughter regarding his house in Phoenix, stating there was a trap door in the house that should not be opened for two years after his death. His wife and daughter complied with his request. The trap door is located in a room that was called “purgatory” (between the chapel and the bar!). When LIFE Magazine came to the Gulley home to do a story on Mystery Castle in 1948, the trap door was opened and the mystery revealed. You’ll learn what the mysterious contents were when you take the tour.
Although children are invited to attend the tour, and there are basically no restrictions on touching – and there are numerous items to touch – they may not find an eclectic, unusually constructed home as fascinating as adults would. During my visit, the kids seemed more interested in throwing rocks in the yard rather than spending time in the house.
Mary Lou Gulley Lived in There
Boyce Gulley’s daughter, Mary Lou, greeted tour participants in the main house section at Mystery Castle for many years. No one was allowed to enter her bedroom, but visitors could see her kitchen and other rooms in the main living area. Mystery Castle is captivating, but interacting with Mary Lou might have been the most intriguing part of the tour. Mary Lou’s health started to decline, yet tours continued while she stayed in the background.
Mary Lou Gulley passed away in November 2010, but the tours are still being conducted by the foundation that manages the historical property.
A Historic Property
Mystery Castle is on the Phoenix Historic Property Register, ensuring that it will be preserved even though Mary Lou Gulley is no longer there to maintain it. It stands as a testament to the resourcefulness of its architect and builder, who constructed an 8,000-square-foot home on 40 acres out of discarded items, remnants, seconds, personal items, donations, and whatever else he could find or bargain for.
Today, the property covers just a little over 7 acres, nestled at the base of South Mountain.
Made of … Stuff
Mystery Castle is located on the north side of South Mountain, near the site of what was then the town dump. Gulley utilized salvaged materials, auto parts, junk, and other artifacts he found in the Southwest and in Mexico while building his home. This unique construction includes embedded actual petroglyphs in the wall. In one part of the house, you’ll find sections of his car built into the walls, along with unusual glass blocks. The floors display meaningful patterns of stones, and there are 13 fireplaces throughout the property. Outside, the specially made bricks are diverse, ensuring no two of those bricks are alike.
As for modern conveniences like running water, electricity, or cable? Not until many years later.
Wedding Altar
Mystery Castle once served as a popular venue for weddings, but in the mid-2000s, Mary Lou Gulley decided that no more weddings would be held there. This wedding altar is located in the chapel room.
Curiosities in Every Room
After his death, Gulley’s wife and daughter were contacted by an attorney in Phoenix regarding the house. They relocated to Phoenix to live in it, with Mary Lou Gulley being a teenager at that time.
You’ll hear many different dates and time frames mentioned regarding the events surrounding the Gulley family. All dates referenced in the online tour of Mystery Castle were provided by Ms. Gulley.
The Rooms of Mystery Castle
Mystery Castle consists of 18 rooms and 13 fireplaces. Some items within the house are associated with well-known names—original Frank Lloyd Wright furniture (yes, you can sit on the sofa), John Wayne memorabilia in the bar, and Barry Goldwater gave Mr. Gulley some furniture for the project.
You will also notice a lot of “stuff” in the house, such as Navajo baskets, pet rocks, dolls, cat statues, paintings, antiques, and more. Much of it was collected by Mary Lou during her years living at the house. Some of the items are (or were) quite valuable, while others are not. All items are exposed, and since many tours have traversed the house over the years, the decor tends to appear worn.
Taking a Tour
In this photograph, you can observe some of the handmade bricks used to form the handrail.
Mary Lou Gulley’s mother passed away in 1970. Mary Lou continued to live in the castle that her father constructed until her passing in 2010.
A fee is required to view the house, and tour fees help maintain the property and the house.
The tour lasts about an hour, but after the guided segment, you are welcome to explore the house at your own pace. There’s a wealth of story to uncover!
Tour sizes vary significantly; sometimes, there is only one participant, while other times, there are 40. When the tour is large, it can be somewhat challenging to navigate. Since reservations for tours are not taken, you never know who may show up. If you prefer a quieter experience, your best option, of course, is to visit on a weekday instead of a weekend.
A final noteworthy tip: the parking lot is unpaved, rocky, and uneven. Furthermore, the house and surrounding walkways are also uneven, featuring steep, irregular steps and surfaces. It is not wheelchair accessible, and individuals who have difficulty walking or maintaining balance may find it uncomfortable.
Another important point is that the only restroom available is a porta-potty in the parking lot, and there are no water or foodstuffs sold or offered on-site. You are welcome to bring your own water.
Getting There
Boyce Gulley was not only creative but also possessed a definite sense of whimsy. In this photograph, you can see that he built a frame around the view of downtown Phoenix. Don’t you wonder what Phoenix looked like when he constructed it? When he built the frame, one could see all of Phoenix through it.
Mystery Castle is open from early October to the end of May. It is advisable to call in advance to ascertain if it is open, but do not expect anyone to answer the phone or return your call if you leave a message.
Mystery Castle is located in South Phoenix, right near South Mountain. It has been designated as a Phoenix Point of Pride and remains one of the more unusual attractions you will find in the Phoenix area.
Mystery Castle Address
800 E. Mineral Road
Phoenix, AZ 85042
Website: http://www.mymysterycastle.com/
Directions to Mystery Castle
Take 7th Street south. About two miles south of Baseline Rd., you’ll come to a roundabout. Drive around it to turn east (left) on Mineral Rd. The road dead ends in the parking lot. Parking is free.
