Scotty's Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Scotty's Castle
(Death Valley Scotty Historic District) |
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Scotty's Castle
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 Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | Death Valley National Park |
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| Nearest city | Beatty, Nevada, USA |
| Area | 719.57 hectares (1778.0574 acres) |
| Built | 1922 - 1931 |
| Architect | Martin de Dubovay |
| Engineer | Mat Roy Thompson |
| Designer | Charles Alexander MacNeilledge |
| Architectural style | Provincial Spanish (Mexican, Spanish, and Mediterranean influences) |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000297 |
| Added to NRHP | July 20, 1978 |
Scotty's Castle is a large, fancy house in Death Valley National Park, California. It looks like a castle but is actually a villa. It's built in the Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival styles. The "castle" is named after a gold prospector named Walter E. Scott, also known as "Death Valley Scotty." However, he never actually owned the property.
This unique ranch is located about 72 kilometers (45 miles) north of Stovepipe Wells, California. You can reach it by taking California State Route 190 to Scotty's Castle Road. It's also about a three-hour drive from Las Vegas, Nevada.
Scotty's Castle faced big problems from floods in 2015 and a fire in 2021. These events caused the castle to close for a long time. However, good news! Since December 2023, special "Flood Recovery Walking Tours" have started. These tours let visitors explore the grounds and learn about the damage and repairs.
Contents
The Story Behind Scotty's Castle
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Building Scotty's Castle began in 1922. It cost a lot of money, between $1.5 and $2.5 million. The story of the castle involves a colorful character named Walter E. Scott. He was a prospector, performer, and even a bit of a trickster. Walter Scott, or "Death Valley Scotty," convinced a rich man from Chicago, Albert Mussey Johnson, to invest in a gold mine in Death Valley.
An Unlikely Friendship Forms
The gold mine turned out to be fake, and Johnson was very upset at first. But he soon became fascinated by Scotty's exciting stories and personality. The two men became very good friends, even though they were very different. By 1937, Johnson had bought over 600 hectares (1,500 acres) of land in Grapevine Canyon. This is where the ranch is located.
Building a Winter Home
Albert Johnson and his wife, Bessie, visited the Death Valley area many times. Mr. Johnson's health even got better there. Mrs. Johnson thought it would be a great idea to build a comfortable place for their vacations. This is how the villa, which became their winter home, started to take shape.
The Johnsons hired several experts to build their dream home. Martin de Dubovay was the architect who designed the buildings. Mat Roy Thompson was the engineer and managed the construction work. Charles Alexander MacNeilledge was the designer who helped with the look and feel of the interiors.
Unexpected Problems and New Plans
There was a big mistake early on: the first land survey was wrong. The Johnsons were building on government land, not their own! Construction stopped while they fixed this problem. Then, the stock market crashed in 1929. This made it hard for Johnson to finish building because he lost a lot of money.
Scotty suggested a new idea to help the Johnsons earn money. They started renting out rooms at Death Valley Ranch. This helped them cover costs and keep the property going.
The Castle's Future and Legacy
The Johnsons did not have any children. They hoped that the National Park Service would buy their property one day. In 1970, the National Park Service bought the villa for $850,000. The Johnsons had left the property to the Gospel Foundation, a charity Albert Johnson started in 1946.
Walter Scott, who was cared for by the Gospel Foundation after Johnson's death, passed away in 1954. He was buried on a hill that looks over Scotty's Castle.
Exploring Scotty's Castle: Tours and Visits
About 100,000 people visit Scotty's Castle each year. You can still see the Johnsons' original furniture and clothes inside. The National Park Service offers guided tours of the castle for a fee.
In-Person Tours: Step Back in Time
Park rangers dress in 1930s-style clothes to make visitors feel like they've traveled back in time. During the main house tour, you can hear the sounds of a huge 1,121-pipe Welte theater organ. This tour is accessible for people with disabilities.
There's also an "underground mystery tour." This tour lets you see the hidden parts of the building. You can explore tunnels that run for about 400 meters (one-quarter mile) under the castle. In these tunnels, you'll see the powerhouse and thousands of tiles meant for a swimming pool that was never finished. The tunnels also hold many nickel-iron battery cells, which were used to store power. This underground tour is not accessible for people with disabilities.
Virtual Ways to Visit
You can also explore Scotty's Castle from home! It's featured in Episode 607 of California's Gold with Huell Howser.
The Death Valley Conservancy and the National Park Service worked together to create a 3D virtual reality tour. You can experience Scotty's Castle using a computer, smartphone, or VR goggles.
How Scotty's Castle Got Water and Electricity
The springs in Grapevine Canyon were very important for the ranch. They provided all the water and also helped create electricity. The springs are about 90 meters (300 feet) higher than the villa. This height difference created enough water flow and pressure.
The flowing water turned a special machine called a Pelton wheel. This wheel then ran a generator, which made electricity for the villa. A large group of nickel-iron batteries in the house's tunnels stored and regulated the power. These springs provided plenty of water for all the ranch's needs.
Inside the Great Hall, there was a special water fountain. Water dripped down a rock wall, which helped cool the air. The water then collected in a basin and was reused. Near the main house, you can see a large 1930s solar water heater. It's much bigger than modern solar heaters. There's also a big pile of old railroad ties nearby. These were saved from the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad.
Recent Challenges: Floods and Fire
Scotty's Castle has faced some tough times recently, causing it to close for repairs.
2015 Flood Damage
On October 18, 2015, a very heavy rainstorm hit the Death Valley area. About 7.6 centimeters (3 inches) of rain fell in five hours over Grapevine Canyon. This caused a flash flood at Scotty's Castle. Mud and debris piled up around the buildings. Inside the visitor center, mud was up to 30 centimeters (1 foot) high. The main road to the property was also destroyed.
Because of this flood, the property had to close for a long time. Repairs were needed for the buildings and a new access road had to be built. The National Park Service said the castle itself might not fully reopen until 2023. However, special "flood recovery tours" of the grounds were offered between December 2017 and April 2018.
2021 Outbuildings Fire
On April 22, 2021, a fire broke out at Scotty's Castle. It destroyed the historic garage/workshop, which was built in 1922 and used as the visitor center. Another old building on the property was also lost. Investigators from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection found that the fire started inside the Visitor Center. However, they couldn't figure out the exact cause.
Luckily, the main castle building was not damaged. But this fire delayed the repair work and pushed back the public reopening until 2023. The National Park Service plans to rebuild the garage/workshop.
See also
Images for kids
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Scotty's Castle
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Aerial view, 1934
