This five-level, 20 room cliff dwelling “Montezuma Castle” nestled into a limestone recess high above Beaver Creek served as a "high-rise apartment building" for prehistoric Sinagua Indians over 600 years ago. It is one of the best preserved cliff dwellings in North America. Erroneously (?) named for the 16th century Aztec ruler, the site is a classic example of the last phase of southern Sinagua occupation of the Verde Valley. Maybe early settlers, astounded by the sophisticated structures, mistook the dwelling for Aztec - and the name they ascribed to the "castle" still remains. Or was it simply a case of naming an impressive site after a famous name? Whichever the reason might be, as the oldest and best preserved cliff dwelling in the Southwest it is an impressive insight into the life of the Sinagua Indians who built it in the 12th century. A lot of questions will go through your mind when you look at the massive complex of 20 rooms that was built into a cliff high above the flood plain of Beaver Creek.
Montezuma Well Montezuma Well is located 11 miles from Montezuma Castle north on I-17 exit 293 and follow the signs. The water of Montezuma Well enters from two underground springs. Over one and a half million gallons of water a day flow into the well. It's a real Oasis! When visiting Arizona you must see this secret place. It is not a well, but a sink hole. The pond is fed by a underground water cavern, then the water exits through another cavern, then to an existing Sinagua Indian irrigation canal. Montezuma Well is part of the Montezuma Castle National Monument.
