Public Tours of Scotty’s Castle Resume on Select Sundays in Early 2026

Public tours of Scotty’s Castle have returned on select Sundays from January through March 2026, offering visitors a rare look at the historic district while it remains closed for major repairs.

Located in Death Valley National Park, Scotty’s Castle has been shuttered for the past decade following extensive damage from a 2015 flash flood and a later fire. The National Park Service is continuing long-term restoration work at the site.

The tours, called Scotty’s Castle Flood Recovery Tours, are being offered in partnership between the National Park Service and the Death Valley Natural History Association. A park ranger will lead visitors on a guided walk around the castle grounds, sharing the history of the infamous mining scheme that inspired the desert estate, along with updates on flood recovery efforts and restoration plans.

Tours will be offered on select Sundays from Jan. 4 through March 29. Tickets cost $35 per person, plus a processing fee, and must be purchased at least 48 hours in advance at DVNHA.org. Proceeds support conservation work at Scotty’s Castle.

Built in the 1920s by Chicago businessman Albert Johnson and his wife, Bessie, Scotty’s Castle is a Spanish Colonial Revival–style villa tucked into Grapevine Canyon in the park’s northern reaches. Despite its name, the property was never owned by its colorful namesake, Walter “Death Valley Scotty” Scott, a charismatic promoter who claimed the mansion was financed by his gold mine.

In reality, the estate was funded by Johnson, who embraced the legend as part of the castle’s mystique. Today, the historic district stands as one of Death Valley’s most distinctive cultural landmarks, blending desert isolation, architectural ambition and one of the West’s most enduring tall tales.