Explore Death Valley's Sights of Interest

Scotty’s Castle

Scotty’s Castle, the Mediterranean-to-the-max mega-hacienda in the northern part of the park is unabashedly Death Valley’s premiere tourist attraction. Visitors are wowed by the elaborate Spanish tiles, well-crafted furnishings, and innovative construction that included solar water heating. Even more compelling is the colorful history of this villa in remote Grapevine Canyon, brought to life by park rangers dressed in 1930s period clothing. Don’t be surprised if the castle cook or a friend of Scotty’s gives you a special insight into castle life.

Construction of the “castle”—more officially Death Valley Ranch—began in 1924. It was to be a winter retreat for eccentric Chicago millionaire Albert Johnson. The insurance tycoon’s unlikely friendship with prospector/ cowboy/spinner-of-tall-tales Walter Scott put the $2.3 million structure on the map and captured the public’s imagination. Scotty greeted visitors and told them fanciful stories from the early hard-rock mining days of Death Valley.

The one-hour walking tour of Scotty’s Castle is excellent, both for what it reveals about the eccentricities of Johnson and Scotty. Tours fill up quickly; arrive early for the first available spots. Current per person tour ticket prices are Adult (16-61 years of age) $11; Senior (62+ years of age) $9; Children (6-15 years of age)$6; Children 5 and under are free.

Tours fill up quickly; arrive early for the first available spots. A snack bar and gift shop make the wait more comfortable. To learn more about the castle grounds, take a self-guided walking tour, which leads you on an exploration from stable to swimming pool, from bunkhouse to powerhouse.

Near Scotty’s Castle is Ubehebe Crater. It is known as an explosion crater; one look and you know why. Hot magma rose from the depths of the earth to meet the groundwater; the resultant steam blasted out a crater and scattered cinders.

To the native Shoshone of Death Valley, the crater was known as Temp-pin-tta Wo’sah, “Basket in the Rock”—an apt description indeed. A half-mile in diameter, Ubehebe is not the only basket around; to the south is Little Hebe Crater, and a cluster of smaller craters.