2 Arizona sites among America’s most endangered historic places
PHOENIX (AZFamily) — A historic South Mountain castle and a northern Arizona home are among the nation’s most endangered historic places, according to The National Trust for Historic Preservation.
The 2025 list of America’s 11 most endangered historic places was unveiled on Wednesday, with two Arizona sites making the list. The two sites include the May Hicks Curtis House in Flagstaff, and the Mystery Castle in Phoenix.
Officials say the Flagstaff home pays homage to the state’s very own Betsy Ross — May Hicks Curtis, who sewed the first Arizona state flag in 1911. The home where Curtis worked and lived for decades must be moved to pave way for new construction. The city of Flagstaff is working to save and relocate the home to a temporary location, but funding will be necessary to move the house to its permanent home.
The Mystery Castle sits in the foothills of South Mountain Park. In the 1930s, Boyce Luther Gulley built the home for his daughter, Mary Lou, without any plans, permits or architectural or engineering training. Mary Lou and her mother, Frances, transformed the Mystery Castle into a well-known tourist attraction from the 1950s-2000s.
However, the building has sat empty for several years, requiring extensive investment to stop deterioration and reopen it to the public again. Since 2022, the castle has had some issues with break-ins and vandalism.
Other national places that made the list:
- Cedar Key, Florida
- French Broad and Swannanoa River Corridors, Western North Carolina
- Hotel Casa Blanca, Idlewild, Michigan
- Oregon Caves Chateau, Cave Junction, Oregon
- Pamunkey Indian Reservation, King William County, Virginia
- San Juan Hotel, San Juan, Texas
- Terminal Island Japanese American Tuna Street Buildings, Los Angeles, California
- The Turtle, Niagara Falls, New York
- The Wellington, Pine Hill, New York
To learn more about the places on this year’s list and find out what you can do to help preserve them, go to www.SavingPlaces.org/11Most.
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