Phoenix City Guide: Hidden Gems, Dark History & Local Secrets

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Longform stories and essays exploring Phoenix's history and culture

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The Air-Conditioned Dream

Five million people, eight inches of rain, and the absolute conviction that engineering beats ecology

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Mystery Castle: A Father's Secret Desert Castle

In 1927, Boyce Gulley vanished from his family without explanation. For 16 years, he secretly built an 18-room castle out of junk for the daughter he'd left behind. She only found out after he died.

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The Trunk Murderess: Phoenix's Most Infamous Crime

In 1931, Winnie Ruth Judd killed two friends, dismembered one body, and took a train to LA with them packed in luggage. Then she escaped the asylum seven times. She died at 93.

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The Phoenix Lights: What Thousands of People Saw

On March 13, 1997, something massive and silent crossed the Arizona sky. Thousands witnessed it. The Air Force said it was flares. Witnesses say that doesn't explain what they saw.

Read

The Air-Conditioned Dream

Five million people, eight inches of rain, and the absolute conviction that engineering beats ecology

Read

Mystery Castle: A Father's Secret Desert Castle

In 1927, Boyce Gulley vanished from his family without explanation. For 16 years, he secretly built an 18-room castle out of junk for the daughter he'd left behind. She only found out after he died.

Read

The Trunk Murderess: Phoenix's Most Infamous Crime

In 1931, Winnie Ruth Judd killed two friends, dismembered one body, and took a train to LA with them packed in luggage. Then she escaped the asylum seven times. She died at 93.

Read

The Phoenix Lights: What Thousands of People Saw

On March 13, 1997, something massive and silent crossed the Arizona sky. Thousands witnessed it. The Air Force said it was flares. Witnesses say that doesn't explain what they saw.

Read

The Air-Conditioned Dream

Five million people, eight inches of rain, and the absolute conviction that engineering beats ecology

Read

Mystery Castle: A Father's Secret Desert Castle

In 1927, Boyce Gulley vanished from his family without explanation. For 16 years, he secretly built an 18-room castle out of junk for the daughter he'd left behind. She only found out after he died.

Read

The Trunk Murderess: Phoenix's Most Infamous Crime

In 1931, Winnie Ruth Judd killed two friends, dismembered one body, and took a train to LA with them packed in luggage. Then she escaped the asylum seven times. She died at 93.

Read

The Phoenix Lights: What Thousands of People Saw

On March 13, 1997, something massive and silent crossed the Arizona sky. Thousands witnessed it. The Air Force said it was flares. Witnesses say that doesn't explain what they saw.

Read

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Curated collections of curiosities, dark history, hidden gems, and more

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Phoenix's Dark History

A dark past written in desert sunshine

Curious Phoenix

Articles

The Air-Conditioned Dream

Mystery Castle: A Father's Secret Desert Castle

The Trunk Murderess: Phoenix's Most Infamous Crime

The Phoenix Lights: What Thousands of People Saw

The Air-Conditioned Dream

Mystery Castle: A Father's Secret Desert Castle

The Trunk Murderess: Phoenix's Most Infamous Crime

The Phoenix Lights: What Thousands of People Saw

The Air-Conditioned Dream

Mystery Castle: A Father's Secret Desert Castle

The Trunk Murderess: Phoenix's Most Infamous Crime

The Phoenix Lights: What Thousands of People Saw

Discover

Phoenix's Dark History

Curiosities

Hidden Gems

Lost Phoenix

Phoenix's Dark History

Curiosities

Hidden Gems

Lost Phoenix

Phoenix's Dark History

Curiosities

Hidden Gems

Lost Phoenix

The Guide

Best Bars

Best Coffee Shops

Best Restaurants

Things to Do

Best Bars

Best Coffee Shops

Best Restaurants

Things to Do

Best Bars

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Articles

The Air-Conditioned Dream