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15 January 2024
In the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona, a captivating story unfolds, centered around Tovrea Castle, an architectural marvel with a history as intriguing as its distinctive silhouette.
In 1903, Frederick and Lizzie Warner, early settlers, established their homestead on 160 acres of pristine desert land. Over time, their property grew to an impressive 320 acres. In 1928, Lizzie decided to sell 277 acres of their homestead to Alessio Carraro. Carraro, an Italian immigrant and San Francisco businessman, had recently relocated to Phoenix with his family.
Carraro’s vision for this remarkable piece of land was both grand and practical. He aimed to create a prestigious hotel and resort, the centerpiece of a first-class residential development he aptly named “Carraro Heights.” He believed that the hotel would draw potential homebuyers to the area.
Construction of the hotel, a three-tiered castle, began without precise blueprints. Dynamite leveled two granite knolls, while a third was blasted open to serve as the foundation. Granite remnants found new life as concrete blocks for the building’s foundation. The structure itself was framed in wood and covered in stucco.
Carraro’s resourcefulness extended to the interior, where salvaged materials played a significant role. Maple flooring came from a demolished Phoenix residence, while kitchen cabinets were crafted from mahogany and oak reclaimed during the renovation of the Phoenix National Bank. Even the bank’s vault transformed into a wine cellar.
Carraro’s creativity wasn’t limited to the indoors; he cultivated a vast desert garden around the castle, featuring over 300 varieties of desert plants. For the 1930 Christmas season, he adorned the property with 1,000 colorful lights, earning accolades for his dazzling holiday display.
Carraro’s dreams unraveled when he couldn’t acquire a crucial 40-acre buffer zone next to his property. This buffer was vital to protect his vision from a nearby stockyard and meatpacking plant. Edward Tovrea, the packing company owner, acquired the land and established sheep and goat pens next to Carraro’s castle. This proved to be a fatal blow to Carraro’s dream, as he realized that no one would invest in a hotel or upscale homes next to a flock of sheep.
In 1931, Carraro reluctantly sold his castle, hotel, and much of the property to a real estate agent, unaware that the buyer was Della Tovrea, Edward Tovrea’s wife. The Tovreas transformed the castle into their residence, marking a new chapter.
Though Edward Tovrea passed away the following year, Della continued to reside in the castle. She harbored a deep fear of being locked inside the building’s massive safe, so she had its doors removed. In a tragic 1969 incident, two intruders invaded the castle, assaulting Della, who narrowly escaped a gunshot. She survived that night but succumbed to pneumonia later that year.
Following Della’s passing, Edward Tovrea’s relatives took up residence in the castle, preserving its unique interior. Today, visitors can explore the castle’s history through tours and exhibits, including a restored first floor that showcases both its original hotel layout and its life as a residence.
In 1993, the city of Phoenix acquired the castle and some adjacent property, embarking on an ambitious plan to restore and open the castle and its Carraro Cactus Gardens to the public. By 2001, exterior renovations were completed, and sections of the historic gardens were lovingly restored to their former glory.
Tovrea Castle stands as a testament to ambition and resilience, nearly a century strong. It’s a beacon of history and architectural wonder, welcoming visitors to explore its rich past and remarkable beauty. Alessio Carraro’s dream may not have unfolded exactly as he envisioned, but he left behind a cherished landmark for all to enjoy today.
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