Scotty’s Castle•Death Valley NP

Scotty’s Castle is one of many historic sites in Death Valley National Park that are worth going the extra distance to check out. Unfortunately this popular destination was closed due to a massive flash flood that occurred in 2015. The result was major damage to the road through Grapevine Canyon and Scotty’s Castle also received extensive flood damage. The damage in the mansion necessitated a heavy mud and debris cleanup along with a big repair job. To make matters worse, successive flash floods in recent years have caused even more damage and the proposed reopening date has been delayed several times. It has nearly been a decade since Scotty’s Castle closed and hopefully this video will satisfy those who dearly miss this unique example of Spanish colonial architecture.  

The construction of Scotty’s Castle began in 1920s and this classic Spanish mission style mansion has been a landmark ever since. Scotty’s Castle does cover a lot of ground and it takes plenty of footwork to see the entire spread. Of course everybody knows that the Death Valley summer temperatures can exceed 130ºF, so winter is the best season for sightseeing. Staying hydrated is the key to having a pleasant Death Valley experience, so be sure to carry a bottle of water during the tour. 

This old mansion does have a long history that revolves around a peculiar character named Walter Scott. Old Scotty was a gold prospector and con man that basically flimflammed a millionaire named Albert Johnson into investing in gold mines in the Death Valley region, which have historically never panned out. Scotty also conned the millionaire into buying real estate in Grapevine Canyon, California, which can be compared to buying swampland in Florida. The millionaire just happened to suffer from severe illness and after visiting the Grapevine Canyon site a few times his health actually improved. The millionaire’s wife suggested building a vacation home at the site and the construction of Scotty’s Castle soon got underway.  

Scotty the con man actually put Albert Johnson in a precarious position in this real estate venture, because the mansion site was actually located on government land and the title dispute went to court for many years. The land ownership dispute was finally resolved, but at a costly price. To make matters worse, the stock market crashed in 1929 and as a result, the Scotty’s Castle construction project was never completed.

Con man Scotty did take up residency at the incomplete construction project and lived there for most of his remaining years. When Scotty passed away, he was buried on top of a hill overlooking the castle and the cross can be seen from the courtyard. On the flip-side, when the millionaire investor passed away, he set up a trust for Scotty’s Castle to be purchased by the National Park Service. For this reason, Scotty’s Castle is now maintained as a national historic site.   

Anybody that has seen this mansion in person will agree that Scotty’s Castle truly is an architectural masterpiece. The castle has a classic Spanish mission architectural theme and there are southwestern style ranch houses, guest houses, a barn and large stables on the property.  One of the most interesting features is the Spanish castle watchtower that overlooks the mansion.  The watchtower castle is one of the parts of this vast mansion that was never completed.   

The lavish western furnishings and decorations inside the mansion are all from the late 1800s and early 1900s, so Scotty’s Castle offers a unique periodic museum experience. Those who opt to take the guided tour will find that there is a vast tunnel system underneath Scotty’s Castle with rooms and vaults that stay cool year round. The National Park Service offers guided tours inside the mansion and the tunnel system for a modest price. It is safe to assume the tours will continue when Scotty’s Castle finally reopens. 

As mentioned earlier, Scotty’s Castle is currently closed and it may be quite some time before it reopens. Be sure to stay tuned to Death Valley National Park website bulletins for further information. The photos were captured in January 2012 a few years before the major flood damage occurred and it certainly is interesting to see how this magnificent landmark once looked.