Travelogues: The Blog
Death Valley Scotty's Castle
"I got four things to live by: Don't say nothing that will hurt anybody. Don't give advice--nobody will take it anyway. Don't complain. Don't explain. "
-Death Valley Scotty
Scotty's Castle is a Mission & Spanish Colonial architectural wonder in Death Valley National Park. It was created under the vision of Walter E. Scott, later known as Death Valley Scotty, a famous gold mine con man. Walter convinced millionaire Chicago investor Albert Mussey Johnson to invest in his fake mine.
The investment turned out to be a fraud but Albert enjoyed Scotty's enthusiasm and passion so much that they teamed up to build a castle. Albert & his wife Bessie used the villa as their winter home and rented out the property for the rest of the year. Scotty entertained the guests with his fictitious tales of the west and became a Mojave desert legend.
The National Park Service purchased the property in 1970 and has led tours of the interior and grounds ever since. All original furnishings remain making this an authentic western experience. The castle became buried due to a 2015 flood and is currently closed and estimated to reopen to the public in 2022.
I am proud to showcase never-before-seen colorized photos from the historical Frasher Foto Postcard Collection.
