activities · 20
what they do
direct service · 20
- Conducting Guided Tours Guided Tours and Docent-Led ExperiencesOffers various guided tours of Tovrea Castle, its cactus gardens, and outbuildings, including regular tours, group tours, twilight tours, and special event tours, led by certified volunteer teams and docents. These tours have been offered since 2012 and are often booked years in advance.
- Daily Site Operations and Management Public Park & Garden StewardshipManages daily operations of Tovrea Castle and its Cactus Gardens under an Operating & Management Agreement with the City of Phoenix, including fundraising, volunteer recruitment and training, tour scheduling, event bookings, promotion, and community outreach since March 2012.
- Event Venue Operations Historic & Cultural Venue RentalsOperates Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights as a venue for private and public events, including social affairs, business meetings, and community fundraisers, contributing to site utilization and community engagement.
- Facility and Program Operations Management Public Park & Garden StewardshipManages daily operations of Tovrea Castle and its Cactus Gardens under an Operating & Management Agreement with the City of Phoenix, including fundraising, volunteer recruitment and training, scheduling public and special tours, event bookings, promotion, and community outreach since the first public tours began in March 2012.
- Garden Restoration and Cactus Planting Habitat Restoration & Invasive Species ManagementConducts ecological restoration of the Carraro Cactus Gardens, including planting 400 saguaro cacti and 1,000 smaller cacti to enhance native plant populations and landscape integrity.
- Garden Restoration and Maintenance Public Park & Garden StewardshipManages the restoration and ongoing maintenance of the 44-acre Carraro Cactus Gardens, including planting native species such as 400 Saguaros and 1,000 smaller cacti, and organizing volunteer events for weeding, caging plants, and moving earth and rock.
- Garden Restoration and Maintenance Public Park & Garden StewardshipConducts garden restoration efforts, including planting saguaros and smaller cacti, and organizes volunteer events for ongoing garden maintenance such as weeding, caging plants, and moving earth and rock.
- Group Tours with Capacity and Frequency Restrictions Guided Tours and Docent-Led ExperiencesConducts group tours limited to 12 participants per group, with a policy restricting each group to one tour every two years. These tours are offered on Thursdays and are fully booked through December 2026.
- Group and Special Event Tours Guided Tours and Docent-Led ExperiencesConducts group tours limited to 12 participants, with one tour per group allowed every two years, and hosts special event tours on Wednesdays and Twilight Tours exclusively in June. Also provides Tovrea Castle as a venue for private and public events such as social affairs, business meetings, and community fundraisers.
- Health and Safety Protocols Infection Control and Safety ProtocolsImplements health and safety measures including optional face masks (as of March 11, 2022), daily self-screening for staff and volunteers, physical distancing, virtual meetings, enhanced cleaning with disinfectants, hand sanitizer availability, and hygiene signage to reduce virus transmission risks.
- Hosting Private and Public Events Historic & Cultural Venue RentalsProvides Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights as a venue for various private and public events, such as social affairs, business meetings, and community fundraisers.
- Implementing Health and Safety Protocols Infection Control and Safety ProtocolsImplements health and safety measures, including optional face mask policies, encouraging sick individuals to stay home, providing sanitizers, increasing cleaning diligence, and requiring staff and volunteers to self-screen and maintain social distancing.
- Managing Tour Ticket Sales Tour & Event Ticketing SystemsOperates a lottery system for tour tickets, sells a limited number of tickets online, resells canceled tickets, and processes refunds for tours.
- Operating and Maintaining Tovrea Castle and Gardens Public Park & Garden StewardshipManages the daily operations, maintenance, and preservation of Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights, including its cactus gardens and structural integrity, on behalf of the City of Phoenix.
- Public Guided Tours of Tovrea Castle and Cactus Gardens Guided Tours and Docent-Led ExperiencesOffers 60-minute guided tours of Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights, including the castle’s first floor and basement, the 44-acre Carraro Cactus Gardens, and outbuildings via tram, led by certified volunteer docents. Tours are available on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays as Regular Tours, with tram access starting from a Visitor Center and including a gift shop.
- Public Guided Tours of Tovrea Castle and Cactus Gardens Guided Tours and Docent-Led ExperiencesOffers 60-minute guided tours of Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights, including tram rides through the 44-acre Carraro Cactus Gardens and outer buildings, exploration of the Castle’s first floor and basement, and access to a gift shop. Tours are led by Certified Volunteer Team members and operate on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
- Special and Seasonal Tours Guided Tours and Docent-Led ExperiencesHosts special event tours on Wednesdays and Twilight Tours exclusively in June. These tours supplement regular public programming and are part of the organization’s varied tour offerings.
- Tour Ticketing and Refund Operations Tour & Event Ticketing SystemsManages a tour ticket lottery system for limited ticket availability, resells canceled tickets through a Last Minute Tour Tickets portal, processes refunds if requested at least 72 hours in advance, and facilitates online ticket purchases as the primary ticketing source.
- Tour Ticketing and Reservation Management Tour & Event Ticketing SystemsManages tour ticket sales through multiple channels, including online direct sales, a Tour Ticket Lottery for limited availability, and a Last Minute Tour Tickets portal for resold canceled tickets. Processes refunds if requested at least 72 hours before the scheduled tour.
- Volunteer-Led Garden Maintenance Public Park & Garden StewardshipOrganizes volunteer events for ongoing garden upkeep, including weeding, caging plants, and moving earth and rock, to support the preservation of the 44-acre cactus gardens.
strategies · 12
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Direct ticket sales and anti-resale policy direct_salesSells tour tickets directly through its website and prohibits third-party resales to maintain control over access and prevent exploitation of demand.
- Equitable access via lottery system lottery_systemUses a lottery system to fairly distribute a limited number of tour tickets, ensuring broad public access despite high demand.
- Health and Safety Prioritization health_and_safety_firstThe organization prioritizes the health and well-being of all stakeholders by establishing community standards and ensuring compliance with safety protocols for service delivery and volunteer activities.
- Health, safety, and operational compliance health_and_safety_firstPrioritizes the health and safety of guests, staff, and volunteers by establishing clear community standards, leadership accountability, and operational protocols to ensure safe and sustainable service delivery.
- Historic Preservation and Restoration historic_preservationThe organization preserves Arizona's history by maintaining, restoring, and operating Tovrea Castle and its surrounding grounds, including the cactus gardens, according to original designs to provide a unique visitor experience.
- Inclusive Accessibility inclusive_accessibilityThe organization provides ADA accessible tours and makes special arrangements for guests with disabilities, including assistive devices for hearing and sight impairments and interpreters, to ensure a welcoming experience for all visitors.
- Inclusive accessibility services accessible_programmingProvides ADA-compliant tours and accommodates guests with disabilities through advance arrangements for interpreters, assistive devices, and non-motorized mobility aids, though motorized devices cannot be accommodated.
- Interpretive education integration interpretive_educationEnhances historical understanding by incorporating educational components such as an interpretive theme wall and trail into the garden restoration project.
- Limited-access visitor model limited-group_accessManages visitor capacity through a small-group, limited-access approach to protect the site and ensure a high-quality experience for guests.
- Managed Access and Fair Distribution lottery_systemTo manage high demand and preserve the visitor experience, the organization uses a lottery system for ticket distribution and limits tour group sizes, ensuring fair access while maintaining the integrity of the site.
- Outdoor-only event policy historic_preservationHolds all events outdoors and does not host gatherings inside the historic building to protect the integrity and preservation of Tovrea Castle.
- Preservation of historic design integrity historical_restorationRestores and maintains the cactus gardens according to the original 1928–1932 design by Alessio Carraro and Mokta, ensuring historical accuracy in landscape restoration.
named programs · 4
what they call their work
Group Tours
Scheduled tours for organized groups, held on Thursdays, with separate booking and pricing
Last Minute Tour Tickets
Opportunity to purchase unclaimed tour tickets released shortly before tour dates, priced at $25 per person
Regular Castle Tour
Guided tram tour of the 44-acre Carraro Cactus Gardens and Tovrea Castle main floor and basement, available Friday through Sunday during select months
Special Event Tours
Themed or evening tours offered on select days, including Twilight Evening Tours in June
relationships · 10
who they work with
- Arizona Department of Health Services Government — Monitors and is in conversation with for ongoing information and current recommendations.
- Arizona Governor’s Office Government — Monitors and is in conversation with for ongoing information and current recommendations.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Government — Monitors and is in conversation with for ongoing information and current recommendations.
- City of Phoenix Government — Monitors and is in conversation with for ongoing information and current recommendations.
- City of Phoenix Government — Partnered with the City of Phoenix on the first phase of garden restoration beginning in 1998.
- City of Phoenix Partner — Partners with the City of Phoenix to preserve, maintain, and restore Tovrea Castle at Carraro Heights.
- City of Phoenix Partner — Purchased the castle and 44-acre Cactus Gardens from the Tovrea Family Estate in 1993.
- City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation Board Partner — Approved an Operating & Management Agreement for the Society to operate Tovrea Castle.
- The World Health Organization Government — Monitors and is in conversation with for ongoing information and current recommendations.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Government — Monitors and is in conversation with for ongoing information and current recommendations.