Among the canyons of Death Valley in California, in one of the driest and most inhospitable places in the United States, stands a majestic Spanish Revival-style mansion, with towers, courtyards, and architecture that seems completely out of place in the desert. A building that looks decidedly out of place in the desert landscape, yet hides an even more surprising story. And after eleven years of closure, the National Park Service has announced a new season of guided tours of this unusual attraction’s historic grounds.
We’re talking about Scotty’s Castle, located in the northern part of the park. A new season of guided tours began in October 2026, although for now, only the grounds and exterior of the castle can be visited. An interesting update for anyone planning to visit Death Valley in the near future and wanting to include one of its most distinctive landmarks in their itinerary.
Did Scotty really own Scotty’s Castle?
The castle is located in Grapevine Canyon and was built in the 1920s. But its most unusual feature isn’t just architectural: it’s named after a man who never actually owned it!
Walter Scott, nicknamed Death Valley Scotty, was an eccentric adventurer who claimed to own a rich gold mine in the area. Among those who believed his stories was Albert Johnson, a wealthy Chicago businessman who, even after realizing that the mine did not exist and that he had been swindled, developed a friendship with Walter.
It was Johnson himself who had the castle built, but his friend Scott kept telling tall tales, passing himself off as the owner of the building, all with his friend’s amused complicity. A curious story that helped make this unusual desert residence famous.
How can you visit Scotty’s Castle?
Scotty’s Castle has been closed since 2015, when a severe flash flood damaged the buildings and access roads. Restoration work, complicated further by a fire in 2021, is still not finished. However, the National Park Service has announced a new season of guided exterior tours of the castle grounds, scheduled for most weekends from October 10, 2026, through April 17, 2027. The tours require a fee and must be booked on the Death Valley Natural History Association website.
Previous tours have met at the Grapevine Ranger Station, about an hour’s drive from Furnace Creek. From there, the castle is approximately 3 miles away, but you cannot access it on your own: visits are only permitted as part of an authorized tour. Be sure to confirm the meeting point and access instructions when booking. To visit the interior as well, you’ll have to wait a little longer: a full reopening isn’t expected until November 2028 at the earliest.
To learn more about the park in general, read our article on the things to do in Death Valley.
