In the small town of Antonito in southern Colorado, United States, a house made from discarded beer cans, hubcaps, screen doors and scrap metal became a well-known roadside attraction. According to The Denver Gazette, called Cano’s Castle, the structure was built by Dominic “Cano” Espinoza, a Native American Vietnam War veteran who reportedly began working on it in 1980.The personal construction project eventually became a local landmark. Espinoza used materials that others had thrown away, combining them with native volcanic stone to build a complex that stood out from the surrounding homes. Over the years, the unusual structure attracted visitors and became familiar to people living in Antonito, a small town near the New Mexico border.The castle was also Espinoza’s home. Known locally as a private man who often travelled around town on his bicycle, he continued to be closely associated with the property. His religious faith was another part of his identity, according to reports about the castle and its builder.However, on January 13, 2022, a major fire damaged the property. The blaze destroyed the residential section of the complex, although Espinoza escaped without injuries. The incident raised concerns about a structure that had been part of the town for more than four decades.
A castle of discarded materials
Espinoza reportedly began building Cano’s Castle in 1980, using a combination of volcanic stone and materials collected from discarded items. Not relying entirely on conventional building materials, he incorporated objects such as old hubcaps, metal scraps, screen doors and beer cans into the structure.The beer cans were carefully cut and used as part of the castle’s exterior. Along with the other metal objects, they gave the building its distinctive appearance. The complex also featured two tall towers known as the King and the Queen.Located on a residential street, the property was not a conventional castle. It was a collection of structures created from salvaged materials, reflecting the work Espinoza had carried out over several decades.His project became known as a form of folk art, a term used for creative work often made outside formal artistic institutions. Cano’s Castle attracted attention because of the materials used in its construction and the amount of work involved in creating it.For residents of Antonito, the building was more than an unusual roadside sight. It had stood in their neighbourhood for years, becoming part of the town’s identity.
The castle suffered serious damage when a fire broke out in January 2022
When fire destroys Cano’s Castle
The castle suffered serious damage when a fire broke out in January 2022. The fire was reported shortly after midnight, and firefighters from Antonito, Romeo, Manassa and La Jara responded to the incident.Emergency crews continued fighting the flames until around 5 am. The main fire was extinguished by late morning, although smaller flare-ups were reported afterwards.Antonito police officer Olga Cortez confirmed that the fire had destroyed the residence within the complex. However, the castle’s two prominent towers, the King and the Queen, were not damaged. Espinoza was the only occupant of the property at the time and was not injured.The cause of the fire was under investigation when the incident was reported. Cortez said it might have started in the chimney, although this had not been confirmed.She also said Espinoza had not been fully cooperative with authorities following the incident. Describing his reaction to the damage, Cortez said, “He’s more upset.”
Residents recall growing up around the castle
The fire affected people who had known the castle since childhood. Among them was Alex Ponce, who lived in an apartment across the street with his girlfriend and son.Ponce told The Denver Gazette that he woke up to see large flames coming from the property. At first, he believed strong winds were causing the beer cans attached to the structure to make noise. He soon realised that the sound was connected to something far more serious.Having been born in Antonito, Ponce had grown up seeing the castle and had even toured it as a child. Watching the property burn was particularly difficult because it had been a familiar part of his surroundings for so many years.“It’s heartbreaking,” Ponce said by phone, “to see something you’ve known all your life go up in flames.”He also expressed confidence that the local community would come together to help Espinoza rebuild his home and the work he had spent decades creating.Although the January 2022 fire destroyed Espinoza’s residence, the castle’s two main towers survived. According to a report published by OnlyInYourState in 2023, Espinoza continued living on the property in an off-grid trailer. A later report by The Denver Gazette, in July 2025, continued to describe Cano’s Castle as a roadside attraction. It is not confirmed whether fire-damaged residence had been rebuilt.
