Arizona is part of the southwestern part of the United States, so it’s never been home to monarchs, emperors, or anyone else who would build a castle.
That doesn’t mean that they don’t exist, however.
You may be surprised by the various forms of castles, manors, and chateaus that are found throughout the state – many of which represent several types of architecture throughout history.
Contents
- 11 Most Beautiful Castles in Arizona
- Arizona Safety Overview
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Are any of the castles in Arizona open to the public?
- Are there fees to visit any of the castles?
- Were any of the castles in Arizona created by famous architects?
- Is it possible to stay in a castle in Arizona?
- What is the oldest castle in Arizona?
- How much does a castle in Arizona sell for?
- How many castles are in Phoenix?
11 Most Beautiful Castles in Arizona
You’ll find that there are castles of all shapes and sizes scattered across the state of Arizona.
While most don’t have the rich histories of European castles, many are still interesting.
And with many being available to tour, you’ll want to plan on seeing some of these in person.
The Copenhaver Castle
The Copenhaver Castle is also known as Camelback Castle because of its location and how much of the stone was sourced from the mountain.
It was built in the 1960s and 70s by an orthodontist named Dr. Mort Copenhaver.
He purchased a plot of 1 acre of land, which led to a 7800 square foot castle that contained 20 rooms and a four-car garage.
Currently, there are plans to renovate the castle so that it can be reopened to the public.
The new owner has wished to remain anonymous so far.
It remains one of the most talked-about pieces of architecture in the city with its open-air deck and various impressive elements.
Tovrea Castle
The Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights has been given the nickname “The Wedding Cake Castle.”
It was built in 1928 and is 5,000 square feet of architectural wonder
It’s easy to see why when it looks like a four-layer cake with its four-story design.
The landmark castle has been different things throughout its history including a residence and a resort.
It is now part of the Arizona parks system.
According to the castle website, it is “A jewel in the Sonoran Desert.”
The gardens around the castle are home to over 5,000 cacti.
Visitors can tour the grounds of the castle as well as various interior rooms.
Mystery Castle
Mystery Castle is aptly named because it’s a mystery as to how it was constructed out of so many unique components – and it was a mystery to the family of the man who built it.
The castle is located in Phoenix and was built out of found and inexpensive items by Boyce Luther Gulley.
When Gulley found out that he had tuberculosis in the 1920s, he moved from Seattle to the desert to be away from his family.
The unique castle was built for Gulley’s daughter.
However, his wife and daughter didn’t learn about the castle until 1945 when it was left to them upon his death.
Today, the castle has tours that allow you to see all that is inside.
Due to the amazing story, it is also known around the world as the “Castle That Love Built.”
Montezuma Castle
The Montezuma Castle was built during the 1100s by the Sinagua Indians.
It is now a national monument and is well preserved because it was built into one of the cliff dwellings.
The Indian tribe showed a significant amount of ingenuity to create housing inside the unforgiving desert landscape.
The castle was abandoned sometime during the 1400s, and it is unknown why.
Many of the Sinagua Indians disappeared or were absorbed by other tribes.
Today, the area has become part of a national park.
The national monument receives over a million visitors a year and is open most days of the year.
It is approximately 30 miles from Sedona.
The Ashley Castle
The Ashley Castle was designed in 2006 to help people make their fairytales come true.
Located in Chandler, Arizona, it is a wedding and entertainment venue.
It is where it is possible to enjoy all-inclusive planning, catering, and decorations.
The idea behind creating a “castle” started with the owners buying a pair of 200-year-old doors from a Scottsdale antique store.
From there, the designs for Ashley Castle commenced.
The doors are used in every ceremony, “opening for bride and groom and closing for husband and wife” as the website proudly explains.
Castle Hot Springs
Castle Hot Springs was first established in 1896.
It is one of the castle hotels found in Arizona that help to go above and beyond a traditional hotel.
Castle Hot Springs, which has gone through various ownerships since its first opening, is now an all-inclusive experience.
It has even been identified as the winner of the “World’s Best Awards 2022” by Travel + Leisure.
There are hot springs on the premise, found in the heart of the Sonoran Desert.
The inclusivity for hotel guests includes access to the geothermal waters of the hot springs, daily meals, and a wide array of daily activities.
Accommodations include bungalows, sky-view cabins, and a cottage.
Mollohan Castle
The Mollohan Castle was built as a private residence in the 1980s.
It is found in Tucson and has become part of the quirky architecture that is often on display throughout the city.
While the family that built the castle no longer lives there, it has been turned into an entertainment venue.
There are various components of the castle that take on a very medieval era while other parts are very modern.
It allows guests to enjoy all of the different elements based on the kind of event that they want to host.
There is even an area that is designed as the “Ye Olde Dungeon,” though it only has (and ever will have) plastic skeletons since it was never a functioning dungeon.
El Cid Castle
El Cid Castle is primarily in ruins now, but there are still some components that exist.
It was built in Sunnyslope over the course of 17 years, beginning in 1963.
Dr. Kenneth E. Hall built the castle for it to be a bowling alley and recreation center.
Unfortunately, the castle was built using money from Medicare fraud.
As such, the doctor had to sell El Cid so that he could settle a malpractice suit.
Most of the castle has been demolished.
However, there are a few of the original walls still standing, which have been incorporated into what is now an office building.
Sibley Castle
Sibley Castle is in ruins today, but it was quite the feat of architecture when it was first built.
It exists in the town of Copper Creek, which is now a ghost town.
It was built by a mine manager so that he could live in a mansion.
It offers stunning views of the Galiuro Mountains that are found east of Tucson.
There are tours so that you can see Sibley Castle without taking the back roads and dirt paths to get there on your own.
The trail rating is marked as a 3 because it is a tight canyon that is not suitable for most vehicles.
Prescott Armory
The Prescott Armory is found in Prescott, Arizona.
It is found in the downtown area on Gurley Street.
While it is arguably not a castle and more of a citadel, it is made of stone and tends to be quite majestic – especially if you ignore the parking lot.
It is the old Armory for the Guard and is part of the historic district that was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.
Today, the building is known to most as the Grace Sparks Activity Center, which is home to a number of activities throughout the year.
Castles & Coasters
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, right?
One of the castles Phoenix is known for is the one that every kid learns about from a young age.
It is a mini golf course as well as a small amusement park.
It is found near the Metro Centre Mall and is home to birthday parties and fun for the entire family.
A fun piece of trivia about this “castle” is that it is also home to some of the top video game machines throughout the city.
Arizona Safety Overview
READ THE FULL REPORT: Arizona Safety Review
Safety Index:
- OVERALL RISK: LOW
- TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
- PICKPOCKETS RISK: MEDIUM
- NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: HIGH
- MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
- TERRORISM RISK: LOW
- SCAMS RISK: LOW
- WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW
Frequently Asked Questions
Are any of the castles in Arizona open to the public?
Many of the castles throughout Arizona are either in national parks or have been marked as historical landmarks.
This makes it possible to go in and around many of them on your own or as part of guided tours.
Are there fees to visit any of the castles?
While some castles are closed for repairs or are not open because they are private residences, tours are available for some.
For example, the Mystery Castle costs $10 for adults and $5 for children to tour.
Montezuma Castle can also be toured by entering the national park at a cost of $10 per person.
Were any of the castles in Arizona created by famous architects?
The most notable is the Tovrea Castle, which was constructed by the famous Italian architect, Alessio Carraro.
It is why it is listed as Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights as a way of honoring the architect.
Is it possible to stay in a castle in Arizona?
Yes.
There are actually over a dozen castle hotels throughout Arizona.
This type of tourism is popular as it allows people to experience royal treatments without traveling to Europe.
The Arizona Biltmore is probably the most popular castle hotel as it is the one that looks most like a traditional castle.
What is the oldest castle in Arizona?
Montezuma Castle is considered to be the oldest castle in Arizona as it is estimated to have been built over 900 years ago by the ancient Sinagua Indians.
How much does a castle in Arizona sell for?
While many castles are not for sale, the most recent sale was of Castle Hot Springs, which was sold for $1.95 million at auction.
How many castles are in Phoenix?
There are actually nine castles of varying sizes found throughout the capital city, which tends to house an array of schools of architecture.
There are a variety of castles in Arizona that offer unique and interesting experiences, from the historic Montezuma Castle to the modern Ashley Castle, and each one has its own story to tell.
Arizona is a state that may not have the same rich history as European countries, but it still has an impressive array of castles and castle-like structures.