CNN

PHOENIX, Arizona -- No matter the angle it's viewed from or the time of day it's seen, the four-tiered castle on the hill catches the eye and captures the imagination. Under the bright Phoenix sun, Tovrea Castle resembles an enormous yellowish wedding cake that has been laid to rest in a field of saguaros. At night, the lights lining the battlements ensure the enigmatic structure will be seen from miles away.

The city hopes more people will soon know the castle's rich history.

As early as this summer, the city will begin restoring the 74-year-old castle in preparation for opening its doors to the public. The building has deteriorated over the years, with peeling paint in some areas and cracked stucco walls.

"This has landmark potential once it's fully restored because of great curiosity, pent-up curiosity, because people have driven by and seen it all their lives," said John Driggs, a former Phoenix mayor who has worked since 2000 to preserve the castle. "Soon there will be an opportunity to go inside the rock wall and see it."

The castle, which was originally intended to be a hotel, was the brainchild of a cobbler named Alessio Carraro, who wanted to build a resort and draw people to his vision of a desert paradise. He finished the eight-bedroom castle in 1930 but his dream was never realized.

Then along came a magnate named E.A. Tovrea, who constructed sheep pens and a slaughterhouse nearby.

Convinced that no one would patronize a hotel next to a farm, Carraro quickly sold his castle to Tovrea, who made it his home.

City officials believe the castle had never received guests nor was ever opened to the public except for special events.

Urban legends

Tovrea died in 1932, and his widow, Della Tovrea, would live in the castle sporadically for the rest of her life. She died in 1969 after being beaten by burglars. A bullet hole remains in the first-floor ceiling where she was rumored to have fired a shot during the burglary. After Mrs. Tovrea's death, family and friends took turns with the upkeep of the castle, said Phil Tovrea III, E.A. Tovrea's great-grandson.

While newspaper articles and photographs have documented the castle's official history, urban legends continue to circulate today. Stories abound that the castle was connected to the Chicago mafia and housed illegal gambling, city officials say.

"One of the urban legends was, 'Is this really Al Capone's hideout in the desert?"' said Bill Jacobson, a planner for the city's Historic Preservation Office. "Of course, I don't think Al Capone ever made it to the desert, but it's got a lookout tower and tunnels to escape. Not that you'd get very far."

Mark Lamm, special programs and facilities supervisor for the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department, said the agency receives up to four calls a week about the castle.

"Some people think it's the governor's mansion, but because not a lot of people have been inside, there's a lot of stories about it," Lamm said.

Many stories are unconfirmed, but some of them also haven't been disproved, he said.

The chance to bring more people into the know and restore this landmark was a long time coming.

For 15 years, city officials had eyed Tovrea Castle for historic preservation. Voters had approved two bond measures for its restoration. However, insufficient funds hindered the effort while some of Tovrea's heirs who held a trust on the property wanted to sell to developers. Since 1993, the city has been buying the property in sections, not knowing each time whether it could acquire all 44 acres. The final piece was purchased in January 2003.

Officials see the castle as a tourist destination and a venue for city functions, public events, receptions and parties. Plans are also in the works to construct historical trails and a visitors' center.

Estimates say the restoration work will cost $2 million, and the city will look at future bond measures and private contributions to fully develop and preserve the land around it, Jacobson said.

City officials plan to open Tovrea Castle on a limited basis as early as next year.

 

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