In the rugged desert outside of Phoenix Arizona stands a castle.
This unusual structure was built by an unusual man. In the early 1920s, Boyce Gully was diagnosed with tuberculosis and given two months to live. He chose to face his impending death by running away. Without telling his wife and daughter of his diagnosis or his departure, Boyce left Seattle and moved to a desolate plot of land outside the then fledgling town of Phoenix.
Possibly aided by the desert climate, Boyce did not die in two months. Realizing he was feeling better, he decided to spend whatever time he had remaining building a fairy tale castle for the young daughter he’d left behind. Over the next twenty-odd years, Boyce scavenged rail yards and construction sites, hotel auctions and trash heaps, and used the random collection of materials to build his castle. Skylights made from old glass bakeware supplemented the natural light brought in from circular windows made from repurposed car tire rims.
In 1945, Bryce’s wife and daughter, Mary Lou, still living in Seattle, received surprising news from the man’s lawyer. Bryce had just died and left them a castle. The astonished women made the trip to Phoenix to see the property. The lawyer showed them one particularly unusual spot – a locked trap door in the floor of one of the rooms. Another surprise followed – Bryce’s will stipulated that his wife and daughter must live in the castle for two years before his lawyer would be allowed to use the only key to open the strange locker.
Showing strong wills and adventurous spirits, the women agreed. Over the two years, they fell in love with their desert retreat. On the day set for the opening of the mysterious compartment, Life magazine showed up to cover the event. When the lid was pulled back, the women discovered cash, gold, Bryce’s journals, and letters to them explaining what he’d done and why. The story about the “Mystery Castle” made the cover of Life in January 1948.
Soon after, strangers, intrigued by the story, began showing up on the property. Tired of continually running off the curious crowds, Bryce’s widow and Mary Lou tried to stem the tide by sticking a sign out front requiring a paid admission. Undeterred, people opened their wallets and asked to see the place. The women started providing regular paid tours and found that they actually loved showing off their Mystery Castle. Mary Lou gave tours until her death in 2010, and a foundation she established continues the tradition to this day.
As I wandered Mystery Castle on a recent tour, I was struck not just by the odd story and the unique architecture, but by the tenacity and cleverness of these amazing women. Not only were they willing to embrace a radical life change brought about by a man who’d abandoned them, but they took a severe nuisance – the uninvited crowds – and turned it into a positive. In doing so, they not only created an unexpected income stream but discovered an unexpected passion – sharing their fascinating home and story with others.
I drove away challenged by their resourcefulness. How can I take annoyances in my own life and flip them on their head? Turn them into a positive? What might I discover about myself if I do? The loud music from the outdoor bar down the street can be an opportunity to dance in our living room. The grit-my-teeth chore of cleaning our condo can be made almost enjoyable when doing it while listening to a favorite audio book. Stuck-in-traffic moments can be a chance for my wife and I to plan our next travel adventure.
How about you? What annoyances do you have in your life? Can you think of ways to flip them to a positive? Get creative. Think outside the box. Choose a different mindset. If you do, you might be surprised at what you discover, and you’ll take another step toward Becoming Yourself.
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