Death Valley Ranch also known as Scotty's Castle

After lunch, we decided to drive up to Scotty’s Castle, a Spanish-style “vacation retreat” (most would say “mansion”) of a wealthy Chicagoan built in the 1920s. We got there in time to take the last house tour of the day at 4:00. 

Panorama of Scotty's Castle Area

The Bell Tower With Power Plant in Front of It

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I'm walking to the spiral staircase.  We came down from the tour via these steps.

Inside the Courtyard

   Gates to the Courtyard

The complex

The Propane House

Unusual Weather Vane

A Guest House

The house and the couple that had it built have an interesting history but the gist of it is that they got conned by a prospector named “Death Valley Scotty” and came to the area often enough that they built this home rather than camp in tents. Scotty claimed he had a gold mine in Death Valley and convinced a number of wealthy men including one Albert Johnson of Chicago to invest in the mine. But there was no mine. Scotty took the money invested and lived high off the hog. But then Albert Johnson traveled to Death Valley to check out his investment. He actually made several trips to Death Valley without ever realizing the mine was a figment of Scotty’s imagination. While here, Scotty would take Mr. and Mrs. Johnson on extended camping trips (there were no permanent lodgings in the area) always having a plausible reason for never getting to the mine. The Johnsons would return to Chicago without ever seeing their mine. After several trips, Mrs. Johnson got tired of tents and had Mr. Johnson build a permanent structure for them to stay in while here. Meanwhile, they became good friends with Scotty and by the time the Johnson’s realized they’d been had, believe it or not, they didn’t care.  

Scotty became their employee and entertained their guests at this house.  He was a great story teller and everyone enjoyed listening to him.  Scotty had many stories to tell because for one thing he worked for Wild Bill Hickok for 12 years and he traveled the world with him.  For another, he left home at eight years of age and supported himself from then on.  Scotty lived with the Johsons until they died and then they let him live in it until he died.  Scotty is buried on the hill above the house. 

Our Guide

1923 Packard

Death Valley Ranch

The Living Room

The Living Room

Scotty's Bedroom

Scotty's Bedroom

Fountain on the Porch

Mary on the Porch

Don Quixote Tapestry

Fireplace in the lower Music Room

Downstairs Music Room

Dining Room

Scotty's Area in the Dining Room

 He entertained guests for this area of the dining room.

Specially ordered china from Italy

Dining Room

Ferdinand the Bull Tile Over the Sink

The Kitchen

The Stove

The Sink

Mrs. Johnson's Bed

Bookcase in Mrs. Johnson's Room

Looking down at the Living Room

Another Don Quixote Tapestry

A Guest Bedroom

This chest is one of two in the world.  King Ferdinand and Queen  Isabel are carved in the front of the chest.  It was made in 1492 in honor of some war.

Another large guest bedroom

One of the bathrooms

The Upper Level Music Room

Pipe Organ

Pipes are behind this wall

Fire Place in the Music Room

Another view of the Music Room

Scotty's Grave on the hill over the mansion

It was after five o’clock by the time we were ready to leave the castle and it was quite a long trip back to the campground. We munched the food we’d brought as we drove and our intent was to get back to Zabriskie Point near the park’s entrance in time for the sunset. This is a popular spot for viewing sunsets. Unfortunately, we got there a little too late for the show. There were a lot of cars in the parking lot and many were just beginning to leave. We did get some shots however of the sun reflecting off the nearby mountains making them glow red.