# Tovrea Castle

- **Country:** the United States
- **Location Text:** The  was built between December 1929 and January 1931 and is located at 5041 E. Van Buren St. The castle was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on Oct. 1, 1996.[http://www.tovreacastletours.com/ Tovrea Castle]

Tovrea Castle is a historic landmark located at 5041 East Van Buren Street in Phoenix, Arizona, situated on a 44-acre plot bounded by major roadways and the Red Mountain Freeway. Constructed between December 1929 and January 1931 by architect Alessio Carraro, the structure features a distinctive vernacular Italianate architectural style. Although locally famous as the "Wedding Cake Castle," contrary to popular legend, it was not built by E.A. Tovrea for his wife to resemble a wedding cake. Instead, the Tovreas purchased the unfinished building from Carraro in 1931 with intentions of using it as the centerpiece for a planned destination resort before it ultimately became their private residence.

The property holds significant historical value and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996 under the designation Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights, honoring both its original builder and its second owners. After years of deterioration that left the site unsuitable for public use, the City of Phoenix acquired the surrounding land and initiated a massive restoration effort starting in 2006. This project involved rehabilitating vegetation, relocating thousands of plants, and planting hundreds of saguaro cacti. Despite plans to open in 2009, cost overruns delayed the full public opening until February 14, 2012, coinciding with Arizona's centennial celebration.

Today, the castle operates as part of the Phoenix Parks System and is recognized as a Phoenix Point of Pride. The grounds are renowned for hosting over 5,000 individual cacti representing more than 100 different varieties. Managed in partnership with the city by the non-profit Tovrea Carraro Society, the site offers guided tours of the first floor, basement, and extensive gardens. The Society also organizes special events, ensuring the preservation and public enjoyment of this unique architectural and botanical treasure.

![Photo of Tovrea Castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Tovrea_Castle_by_Gage_Skidmore_2.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tovrea_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)