It all started when Diana Castillo and her husband, Cesar, were looking for a place to host their daughter’s upcoming quinceañera.

For a huge coming-of-age celebration that often feels like a cross between a sweet sixteen party and a wedding, finding a space to host several hours of dining, dancing and other festivities isn’t cheap.

Maricopa’s dearth of reception halls and other event spaces sent Castillo to the Valley, where the prices were shocking, to say the least.

“We went out of town to look for venues and, I mean, you’re looking to spend up to $25,000 just for a venue,” Castillo told InMaricopa.

At the same time, they were also looking for ideas to spruce up their 1¼-acre property in Hidden Valley.

“While we looked at different venues, I ended up getting different ideas about how to create my venue at home,” Castillo said.

That gave birth to The Gathering at Castillo’s, a future event space at the end of a quiet dirt road near Ralston and Barnes Roads. The 5,000-square-foot yard is currently undergoing a makeover ahead of its first event, set for mid-March.

Just a few weeks ago, the dirt yard had a couple of trees, a shed and an RV parked in the back. As of yesterday, the venue had pavers in place for a dance floor and walkways, as well as bougainvillea-lined archways and an outdoor kitchen under construction.

Next on the list is installing a water fountain, lighting and artificial turf, as well as planting Ficus trees and preparing a spare room for guests to get ready. The space will hold up to 20 round tables, enough for about 160 attendees.

This is Castillo’s second business — she and her husband own a landscaping company — but she said it feels “overwhelming but exciting” watching the venue come to life.

“I’m proud of it and I hope that it can work out for a lot of families in Maricopa, so they don’t have to be stuck on the 347 for an event in Phoenix,” she said.

The entrance to The Gathering at Castillo's includes a long dirt road leading to a house, with the venue's entrance on the right. The road will be graded prior to their first event in March. [Monica D. Spencer]

An in-progress view of The Gathering at Castillo's, featuring a paved walkway and dance floor, as well as the first round of planted trees. Within the next couple weeks, the area will be lined with artificial turf, feature a water fountain and will have more ficus trees. [Monica D. Spencer]

An outdoor kitchen in the middle of construction at The Gathering at Castillo's on Feb. 19, 2026. Diana Castillo says will also have a small refrigerator and a bar area. [Monica D. Spencer]

An in-progress view of The Gathering at Castillo's, featuring a paved walkway and dance floor, as well as the first round of planted trees. Within the next couple weeks, the area will be lined with artificial turf, feature a water fountain and will have more ficus trees. [Monica D. Spencer]