Scotty's Castle

A Desert Legend is Born

Some say Death Valley Scotty paid for the Castle with gold from his secret mine. Others say his partner Chicago millionaire Albert Johnson built it. Whose castle was it really? Perhaps you can decide while strolling through the grounds on your own, or maybe while joining a park ranger on a 1939 living history tour of the mansion.

Regardless of the source of his income, Death Valley Scotty certainly remains Death Valley's greatest legend for his flamboyant and outrageous character. Born Walter Scott in 1872, he ran away as a young boy from his home in Kentucky to join his brother on a ranch in Nevada.

He worked numerous jobs in the area, including a few in Death Valley, a place he loved immediately and which would someday become his home. In 1890, a talent scout for Buffalo Bill Cody discovered Scotty and hired him to work as a cowboy with the Wild West show.

After traveling the world with the Wild West for twelve years, Scotty began a new profession that brought him even more fame and riches - gold prospecting. He convinced several wealthy businessmen that he had claim to a gold mine worth a fortune in Death Valley. Scotty agreed to split the profits, provided they first offer enough money to extract the ore.

Scotty apparently had little luck while prospecting in Death Valley over the next few years. However the desert dweller often turned up at the finest hotels and saloons of California and Nevada, and began what would become his legendary spending sprees.

Johnson Becomes a Partner

Convinced to invest in the mine, Mr. Johnson gave thousands of dollars to Scotty over the next several years. Unfortunately, at least according to Scotty, a number of calamities prevented delivery of the gold. Undaunted, Mr. Johnson finally decided to take a look at the gold mine on a personal tour of Death Valley.

Scotty remained cool. Using his Grapevine Canyon home as base camp, Scotty took Mr. Johnson on a grueling trek by horseback through Death Valley. He figured a few days in the desert would be too much for Johnson, whose health had suffered permanently following a near-fatal train wreck in his youth.

Surprisingly, Johnson loved Death Valley so much that he stayed nearly a month, and his health improved dramatically in the dry, sunny climate.

Although he never saw Scotty's mine, Mr. Johnson did not seem to mind. He had found riches in the desert far greater than ones that glitter. Besides, he had taken a liking to the eccentric desert rat. The two men began a lifelong friendship that would change the history of Death Valley forever.

Johnson and Scott build a Castle

Over the next ten winters, Albert Johnson often returned to Death Valley. His wife, the former Bessie Penniman, began to accompany him and Scotty on their desert expeditions. Mrs. Johnson suggested that they build something more comfortable for their vacations, an idea that lead to the construction of the Death Valley Ranch in the late 1920s.

Recognizing a good story, Scotty told everyone that he was building the two million dollar home with profits from his gold mine. When questioned by the droves of reporters who visited, Mr. Johnson actually agreed that Scotty owned the place, and passed himself off as Scotty's banker.

Towards the end of the Great Depression, the Johnsons retired to Hollywood and often visited the Castle, which had become a popular hotel and tourist attraction due to the fame of Death Valley Scotty. Thousands of tourists, along with reporters from around the country, flocked to the Castle each year to see what they thought to be the dwelling of one of the world's richest gold miners.

The Johnsons died in the 1940s, and having no heirs, willed the Castle to a charitable organization called the Gospel Foundation. The Foundation continued to run the Castle hotel and tours, and also took care of Scotty, who lived in the Castle the last two years of his life. He died in 1954, and was laid to rest on a hill overlooking the famous home that bears his name.

In 1970, the Gospel Foundation sold the estate to the National Park Service, whose job is to protect and preserve the Castle for present and future generations to enjoy. Perhaps Death Valley Scotty had that in mind when he proclaimed:

Important Tips When Visiting

Expect a one to two hour wait during busy times of the year. Make sure to buy your tickets as soon as you arrive.

Written tour translations are available in German, French, Spanish, and Japanese. Written texts are also available for the hearing impaired.

Camcorders and cameras with flash are permitted on the tour. Large camera bags, tripods, backpacks and strollers are not allowed.

The tours are accessible for the physically disabled. Several wheelchairs are available.

Small children can become bored and fussy on tour, which may disturb other visitors during the 50 minute, confined house tour. Please consider before taking infants and toddlers inside the Castle. Parents and children may be asked to leave if their actions disturb others.

A self-guided tour book of the grounds is available for a small fee.

Castle grounds and picnic areas are open and free to the public from 7 am to 6 pm.

Castle services include a bookstore (open 9 am to 5 pm), a gift shop, exhibit room, and snack bar (open from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm), and a gasoline pump (open from 9 am to 5:30 pm).

Mesquite Spring campground is located five miles south of the Castle.