Albert Johnson, born into an affluent Chicago family, was trained as an engineer. He traveled west and became enamored with the parched desert. After a train accident, he returned to Chicago and went into insurance. There he met Scotty. Taken with the con man, Johnson went to the desert to check out the fabled mine. He felt well in the stark landscape. Johnson and Scotty became mining partners and friends.

Later, Bessie, joined Albert on his desert vacations. She went camping with Albert and Scotty, and stayed in the rough Grapevine Canyon accommodations. The Johnsons' developed their land into the fabled Death Valley Ranch, known as Scotty's Castle. There Bessie continued her gospel work and entertained, and attended to the increasing number of visitors.