Scotty’s Castle Partially Reopens in Death Valley After Years of Restoration
After nearly a decade of closure following a devastating 2015 flood and a subsequent fire in 2021, Scotty’s Castle in Death Valley National Park will partially reopen to visitors for ranger-led walking tours starting December 7, 2024.
The historic site, officially known as Death Valley Ranch, will host guided tours on select weekends through March 23, 2025, offering a glimpse into its unique history and the extensive ongoing restoration efforts.
Scotty’s Castle, built in the 1920s by Chicago financier Albert Mussey Johnson, is a testament to the Roaring Twenties and Depression-era ingenuity. The estate gained its nickname from Walter “Death Valley Scotty” Scott, a charismatic conman who became an unlikely friend and local legend, adding to the mystique of the property.
The 2015 flash flood, which brought over a year’s worth of rain to the region in just a few hours, caused an estimated $50 million in damages to roads and infrastructure at Scotty’s Castle. The flood washed away berms, damaged buildings, and destroyed utilities, including the estate’s water and sewer systems. Recovery efforts were further complicated in 2021 when a fire destroyed the historic garage and visitor center, adding to the challenges of restoring the site.
According to the Death Valley National Park Service website, the restoration process, projected to cost approximately $66 million, has been a complex undertaking involving multiple funding sources, including federal emergency funds, recreation fees, donations, and specialized congressional appropriations. Park managers have faced hurdles ranging from funding delays to compliance with historic preservation laws, unforeseen structural issues, and pandemic-related setbacks.
Despite these challenges, significant progress has been made, with flood control structures, including berms and gabion baskets, installed to protect the estate from future flooding, successfully withstanding the remnants of Hurricane Hilary in August 2023. Repairs to critical infrastructure, such as water and sewer systems, continue, while plans for adapting other historic buildings for visitor use are underway.
The ranger-led tours will focus on the estate’s history, the 2015 flood, and the extensive restoration efforts. Visitors will have access to areas previously closed to the public, although full restoration of the property is not expected until 2026. Tour tickets, available by reservation only, are expected to sell out quickly.
