El Cid Castle was a landmark structure located on the opposite side of the western boundary of Sunnyslope, Arizona. The controversial castle, built by the late Dr. Kenneth Hall, was supposed to be a bowling alley which resembled a Moorish Castle. Construction on the structure began in 1963 and was completed in 1980.
Dr. Kenneth E. Hall was born in Oklahoma. During World War II, Hall enlisted in the U.S. Army, graduated from the University of Arkansas Medical School, and was honorably discharged after a brief deployment to Italy in 1945. In 1948, he moved with his family to Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Hall established clinics in South Phoenix and Sunnyslope (Sunnyslope was not part of Phoenix at the time).[1][2][3][4][5] Dr. Hall wanted to be known as the “King of Sunnyslope” and built the biggest house in Sunnyslope. Sunnyslope had attempted to be incorporated as its own town on four occasions but failed every time. In 1959, the City of Phoenix annexed the community of Sunnyslope. By then, Dr. Hall operated the North Mountain Hospital, a 40-bed hospital in Sunnyslope, which he built in 1955. The hospital had a primate zoo located on the hospital grounds.[1][2][3][4][5]
El Cid Castleedit
Dr. Hall felt that the growing population of Sunnyslope needed recreational facilities and therefore in 1963, he illegally diverted $16,564 in Medicare funds to help in the construction of a bowling alley which resembled a Moorish Castle. The castle was to be a 65,000-square-foot building under one roof in 20 acres of land at 19th Avenue and Cholla Street.[1][2][3][4][5] The venture was to include thirty-two bowling alley lanes, an ice skating rink, four recreation rooms for teenagers and a snack bar. The castle was also supposed to include multiple nightclubs and a French restaurant. It was named "El Cid", after an 11th-century Spanish hero whose life was depicted in a Hollywood motion picture in 1961.[1][2][3][4][5]
Downfall of Dr. Hall and closure of El Cid Castleedit
Dr. Hall believed that El Cid Castle would be the first of a nationwide chain of bowling allies which would be called Spanish Trails. However, the castle was completed in 1980, almost twenty years after its construction began.[6] Various factors contributed to the downfall of Dr. Hall and the eventual failure of El Cid. Dr. Hall had been performing unsanctioned medical operations, and his physician’s license was revoked in 1971 after four patients died during gastric bypass surgery. In 1974, he pleaded guilty to diverting thousands of dollars in Medicare funds to help build the castle. Dr. Hall was bankrupt, and in 1982 “El Cid Castle” bowling alley closed after one year of operation. Dr. Hall lost the building in order to settle a malpractice suit.[1][2][3][4][5]
Later yearsedit
Dr. Hall died in 2001, at age 80, of heart failure.[1][2][3][4][5] The building later served as a furniture store, an educational facility, church and a sports club.[1][2][3][4][5] The structure, which was empty for sometime, was purchased by the State of Arizona for a new Department of Economic Security office complex. It was remodeled and no longer looks like a castle. In January 2015, the Arizona Department of Economic Security opened the doors of its new facility.[7]
Historic “El Cid Castle”edit
The historic "El Cid Castle" was a bowling alley which resembled a Moorish Castle. It was built by the late Dr. Kenneth Hall, a physician who served the Community of Sunnyslope in Phoenix. Construction on the structure began in 1963 and was completed in 1980. It is located at the Northwest corner of 19th Ave and West Cholla Drive which technically is on the opposite side Sunnyslope's western boundary.[8]
El Cid Castle (Sunnyslope Historical Society and Museum) [9]
"El Cid Castle"
Different view of "El Cid Castle" It is currently under restoration.
Side view of "El Cid Castle".
Further readingedit
Sunnyslope (Images of America), by Reba Wells Grandrud; Arcadia Publishing (2013); ISBN978-0738599571
castle, landmark, structure, located, opposite, side, western, boundary, sunnyslope, arizona, controversial, castle, built, late, kenneth, hall, supposed, bowling, alley, which, resembled, moorish, castle, construction, structure, began, 1963, completed, 1980,. El Cid Castle was a landmark structure located on the opposite side of the western boundary of Sunnyslope Arizona The controversial castle built by the late Dr Kenneth Hall was supposed to be a bowling alley which resembled a Moorish Castle Construction on the structure began in 1963 and was completed in 1980 El Cid CastleSide view of the castleLocation in Maricopa County and the state of Arizona Contents 1 History 1 1 Dr Kenneth E Hall 1 2 El Cid Castle 1 3 Downfall of Dr Hall and closure of El Cid Castle 1 4 Later years 2 Historic El Cid Castle 3 Further reading 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksHistory editDr Kenneth E Hall edit Dr Kenneth E Hall was born in Oklahoma During World War II Hall enlisted in the U S Army graduated from the University of Arkansas Medical School and was honorably discharged after a brief deployment to Italy in 1945 In 1948 he moved with his family to Phoenix Arizona Dr Hall established clinics in South Phoenix and Sunnyslope Sunnyslope was not part of Phoenix at the time 1 2 3 4 5 Dr Hall wanted to be known as the King of Sunnyslope and built the biggest house in Sunnyslope Sunnyslope had attempted to be incorporated as its own town on four occasions but failed every time In 1959 the City of Phoenix annexed the community of Sunnyslope By then Dr Hall operated the North Mountain Hospital a 40 bed hospital in Sunnyslope which he built in 1955 The hospital had a primate zoo located on the hospital grounds 1 2 3 4 5 El Cid Castle edit Dr Hall felt that the growing population of Sunnyslope needed recreational facilities and therefore in 1963 he illegally diverted 16 564 in Medicare funds to help in the construction of a bowling alley which resembled a Moorish Castle The castle was to be a 65 000 square foot building under one roof in 20 acres of land at 19th Avenue and Cholla Street 1 2 3 4 5 The venture was to include thirty two bowling alley lanes an ice skating rink four recreation rooms for teenagers and a snack bar The castle was also supposed to include multiple nightclubs and a French restaurant It was named El Cid after an 11th century Spanish hero whose life was depicted in a Hollywood motion picture in 1961 1 2 3 4 5 Downfall of Dr Hall and closure of El Cid Castle edit Dr Hall believed that El Cid Castle would be the first of a nationwide chain of bowling allies which would be called Spanish Trails However the castle was completed in 1980 almost twenty years after its construction began 6 Various factors contributed to the downfall of Dr Hall and the eventual failure of El Cid Dr Hall had been performing unsanctioned medical operations and his physician s license was revoked in 1971 after four patients died during gastric bypass surgery In 1974 he pleaded guilty to diverting thousands of dollars in Medicare funds to help build the castle Dr Hall was bankrupt and in 1982 El Cid Castle bowling alley closed after one year of operation Dr Hall lost the building in order to settle a malpractice suit 1 2 3 4 5 Later years edit Dr Hall died in 2001 at age 80 of heart failure 1 2 3 4 5 The building later served as a furniture store an educational facility church and a sports club 1 2 3 4 5 The structure which was empty for sometime was purchased by the State of Arizona for a new Department of Economic Security office complex It was remodeled and no longer looks like a castle In January 2015 the Arizona Department of Economic Security opened the doors of its new facility 7 Historic El Cid Castle editThe historic El Cid Castle was a bowling alley which resembled a Moorish Castle It was built by the late Dr Kenneth Hall a physician who served the Community of Sunnyslope in Phoenix Construction on the structure began in 1963 and was completed in 1980 It is located at the Northwest corner of 19th Ave and West Cholla Drive which technically is on the opposite side Sunnyslope s western boundary 8 El Cid Castle Sunnyslope Historical Society and Museum 9 nbsp El Cid Castle nbsp Different view of El Cid Castle It is currently under restoration nbsp Side view of El Cid Castle Further reading editSunnyslope Images of America by Reba Wells Grandrud Arcadia Publishing 2013 ISBN 978 0738599571See also edit nbsp Arizona portalList of historic properties in Phoenix Arizona Sunnyslope Arizona Other uses of the term El CidOther historic structures in Phoenix Smurthwaite House Windsor Hotel Squaw Peak Inn Tovrea Castle Mystery CastleReferences edit a b c d e f g Modern Phoenix There s No Place Like Sunnyslope modernphoenix net Retrieved 26 May 2015 a b c d e f g Mike Shoe2 Diagnosis Bananas History PHOENIX magazine Retrieved 26 May 2015 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint numeric names authors list link a b c d e f g Arizona Republic iPhoenix Arizona Friday January 22 1971 Page 5 a b c d e f g Robrt L Pela Taking Pride in Sunnyslope Phoenix New Times Retrieved 26 May 2015 a b c d e f g Sunnyslope Village Voice Vol XXVI I No 09 September 2012 PDF Archived from the original PDF on 6 October 2014 Retrieved 29 September 2014 Diagnosis Bananas by Douglas Towne Phoenix Files History Arizona DES Purchases Sunnyslope s El Cid Castle Modern Phoenix There s No Place Like Sunnyslope modernphoenix net Retrieved 26 May 2015 Sunnyslope Historical Society amp Museum sunnyslopehistoricalsociety org Retrieved 26 May 2015 External links editSunnyslope History from the Sunnyslope Historical Society and Museum Historical Timeline of Sunnyslope by John C Lincoln Health Network There s No Place Like Sunnyslope by The Modern Phoenix Neighborhood Network33 35 25 N 112 06 04 W 33 5902 N 112 1010 W 33 5902 112 1010 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title El Cid Castle amp oldid 1189190403, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
