An uninhabitable, monumental shrine, Espinoza started building the castle around 1980. He hauled the “regal” pink exterior wall stone out of the desert in nearby New Mexico, and covered much of the metal-sheathed surfaces with the circular ends of aluminum cans— earning him the nickname: “Cano.” “I just followed where one board ends, looking at it, and imagining the board is gonna throw me this way—oh, I think that looks good— I’ll just follow that.” A Vietnam veteran, Buddhist temples the young foot soldier saw in Southeast Asia made a lasting impression, and he hoped to one day build his own Christian-inspired response. His best friend in the Army was killed one month before his “time in country” would have been up, and Dominic gives thanks to a “guardian angel” for his own safe return in1970. Perhaps the castle is a dwelling after all: for Cano’s spirit guides and protectors.

In January 2022, Dominic Espinoza’s house caught fire.  He escaped unharmed and the castle structures were undamaged, but only the ground floor walls of his home remained standing.  As of May 2022, the plaster ceilings of the living room and bedroom were covered with tarps while his living room and bathroom were open to the sky.  He was collecting lumber donations for his plans to rebuild a second story, and is currently building a new smaller house next to the original hose.

All proceeds for the book Cano’s Castle go to support Dominic Espinoza and his work.  Photographs by Fred Scruton date from 2008 to 2025.  The book also includes earlier black and white photographs by an unknown photographer(s) dating to the early years of the Castle’s construction.

Fundraising poster after the house fire in The Dutch Mill Cafe, a local restaurant in Antonito (photo: 2024)

External resources:

• Cano's house burns down in 2022 fire
• CANO'S CASTLE a self-published Amazon book - all proceeds go to Dominic Espinoza