tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post539058970706702359..comments2024-03-25T16:45:39.205-07:00Comments on North Phoenix Blog: Remembering the El Cid Castle in SunnyslopeTrevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18211903597840052434noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-61105188560472517282022-10-30T16:34:15.403-07:002022-10-30T16:34:15.403-07:00When I was growing up, that northwest corner of 19...When I was growing up, that northwest corner of 19th Ave and Cholla was just a field. Then sweet ol' Dr Hall began construction of the castle. That thing never seemed to change, year after year. All through elementary school, junior high and high school. People stopped paying attention to it after a while because it seemed to be in a perpetual state of unfinish. <br /><br />My best friend Freddy A.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-55010723329365133582019-07-17T10:44:18.016-07:002019-07-17T10:44:18.016-07:00I actually worked for Dr. Hall at El Cid Castle fr...I actually worked for Dr. Hall at El Cid Castle from the fall of 1978 until the spring of 1979. I started out as a Pinsetter Mechanic, and ended up as the Head Mechanic. Although there were times when he would "explode", most the time he and his wife were nice. I remained friends with them after I left El Cid, and when I was stationed at Naval Air Station Miramar, I would go by on the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-74654555047582123332019-03-30T23:08:44.856-07:002019-03-30T23:08:44.856-07:00I grew up in a house right behind that castle . I ...I grew up in a house right behind that castle . I was just in kindergarten when I moved there . Me and a friend R.W. We would go up there to the castle and the DR. Hall or someone one would jump out the door with a knight helmet on and scare the crap out of us . Birds flew out above his head and I thought they were bats . I dont know but that’s how I remembered it . We would go back just to get Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-90582457030326026902019-03-04T11:38:15.734-07:002019-03-04T11:38:15.734-07:00My father moved into the castle when it was abando...My father moved into the castle when it was abandoned. He was homeless with his dog. The place was infested with scorpions. From what i hear it was indiana jones levels of infested. Through Gods plan he raised up my father to turn that place into a ministry. A decipleship program for Men like him coming off the streets. Nobody ever got stung. Never got the scorpion problem fixed. They just Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-48871791668538296082018-02-09T02:44:40.335-07:002018-02-09T02:44:40.335-07:00This is all trueThis is all trueAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05004602070779573438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-53525954573750583192018-01-21T09:23:38.194-07:002018-01-21T09:23:38.194-07:00When I move here from Tennessee I lived on cholla ...When I move here from Tennessee I lived on cholla street for 16 years with David Alan mayerchik .the kids in the area and I would climb the mountain there on the corner of Troy and 17th Street and we would look at the castle and pray that he would be used someday to help with children and it was then we put a church in there where a friend of mine and I used to have to spend the night inside the Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05004602070779573438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-16263755461290528232017-06-21T12:45:56.869-07:002017-06-21T12:45:56.869-07:00Very cool article and photos. I played both rolle...Very cool article and photos. I played both roller derby and roller hockey in the building. The roof leaked and the swamp coolers didn't work too great in the summertime. There was a spacious upstairs area that was closed off, but I remember our roller derby league used it for storage. I always thought the building had such great potential to be so much more, especially with the extra spaceAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-24769929917966828602016-07-22T15:47:53.900-07:002016-07-22T15:47:53.900-07:00I was pretty young when construction started and a...I was pretty young when construction started and as I got older and the castle grew, I would ride my bike often and try to peek inside, I'm sure I could have found a way in but I was afraid of getting in trouble. During that time, I lived a few miles west of the castle and no one I knew had any clue what the castles purpose was, just that some old crazy guy was building it. later as a young SBoserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00752095841976461834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-31992334132328489772016-05-10T14:41:27.564-07:002016-05-10T14:41:27.564-07:00Went to school there in the 80s needless to say th...Went to school there in the 80s needless to say that only lasted a year and then closed downAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-15006016387601060812016-03-10T08:15:27.616-07:002016-03-10T08:15:27.616-07:00Born in 1969 and raised at 19th Avenue and Bell Ro...Born in 1969 and raised at 19th Avenue and Bell Roads, we frequently drove by the castle and wondered if it would ever open. My family actually bowled there during the short time it was open for that and it was a great facility. Years later, I enrolled my son in indoor youth soccer so I hung out and explored the facility while it was Castle Sports Complex. You could still see the remnants of Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-28560431512717885222016-01-05T12:32:13.765-07:002016-01-05T12:32:13.765-07:00When construction was halted because of the Dr'...When construction was halted because of the Dr's transgressions, the Castle sat half built and spookily empty with a few Big Guard Dogs for years! Making it the perfect subject for childhood stories and curiosities! In its Bowling Alley phase there was also a Restaurant/Disco! And and a couple Pinball machines! The Dr would let me and my friend (both of us girls were probably around 11!) Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-71760203178564356522015-11-30T16:39:58.929-07:002015-11-30T16:39:58.929-07:00I used to play roller hockey there back in college...I used to play roller hockey there back in college. Thanks for all of the background in the article.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7599986457260769327.post-20789413548238681682015-11-12T09:22:19.911-07:002015-11-12T09:22:19.911-07:00This is a fun article. I used to drive by the Cast...This is a fun article. I used to drive by the Castle each day on my way to work and wondered about the history.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06099589886478166480noreply@blogger.com