Back in the 1930s, an untrained architect in Phoenix, Ariz., built a ramshackle structure resembling a sandcastle from found materials. The Mystery Castle, which became a funky roadside attraction, fell into disrepair over the years and is now at risk of demolition.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced Wednesday that the Mystery Castle is one of America’s 11 most endangered historic places in 2025. “Across the United States, compelling, meaningful historic sites are at risk, whether from natural disasters, underutilization, neglect, or lack of awareness,” a statement from the National Trust said. The group has been issuing an annual list of U.S. sites at risk since 1988.
“We’re a nation with global roots, and our individual stories matter,” the organization’s CEO, Carol Quillen, told NPR. “And when you find a story about a man who — without plans, without training, without any kind of guidance or permits — built this amazing castle for his wife and daughter, you just want that story to be told.”…