Scottys Castle – The Death Valley Ranch

Scotty's Castle located in Grapevine Canyon in Death Valley.
Scottys Castle located in Grapevine Canyon in Death Valley.

Named after Walter Scott AKA “Death Valley Scotty”, Scottys Castle or the Death Valley Ranch is located on some 1500 acres in Grapevine Canyon in Death Valley.

Built by Scott’s benefactor Albert Johnson in 1922, the Death Valley ranch cost between 1.5 – 2.5 million to construct at that time.  The stock market crash of 1929 cost Johnson a considerable amount of money, and the ranch was never finished.

Scotty was a prospector, stunt rider and con man who used to con investors in to backing his “mining” adventures.  It was reported that when the investor’s delegation wanted the view their new mine, Scotty would march them around the hot valley until they forgave or forgot about their investment.

Death Valley Scotty and the Johnsons
Death Valley Scotty and the Johnsons

On March 11, 1906 Scotty stared as himself in a play which opened in Seattle to a full house.   We was arrested after his only performance and the charged for his crimes, the publicity exposed him to new investors.  In spite of this Albert Johnson maintain interested in his “mine”. Another investigator was sent, who reported back that the mine did not exist. Johnson refused to believe this, and the following year he visited the mine himself, but left without seeing the mine.  He was later sued by his investors in 1915 and ended up in jail.

A welcoming view when travelling the hot distances of Death Valley.
A welcoming view when travelling the hot distances of Death Valley.

In 1922, Johnson started building Scotty’s castle as a vacation home.  When the size and scope of the property was realized, people assumed Scotty used the proceeds for his gold mine to pay for the Ranch.  Scotty, ever the promoter did nothing to correct the record and soon The Johnson’ vacation home is associated with him

The Death Valley Ranch was know as “Scotty’s Castle  in spite of the fact that Scotty rarely stayed over, rather living and sleeping at a 5 room cabin in lower vine canyon a short distance away

A unique perspective of the Death Valley Ranch.
A unique perspective of the Death Valley Ranch.

Due to its remote location, the Death Valley Ranch needed to maintain its own power station and water supply and evaporation cooling system. Despite the conditions, Scotty’s Castle boasts a 1,121 pipe theater organ, fountains, clock tower and a massive unfinished swimming pool.

Water "Death Valley Scotty" Scott's grave overlooks the Death Valley Ranch
Water “Death Valley Scotty” Scott’s grave overlooks the Death Valley Ranch

There is no longer gas available at Scotty’s castle or grapevine canyon.

Scottys Castle was flooded in 2015 and not currently open to the public. The opening date has been pushed many times and currently scheduled for 2022. The flood was the result of over 3 inches in rain in just over 5 hours. The flash flood left debris in the visitors center over one foot deep and washed out the road.

Scotty’s Castle Summary

NameScotty’s Castle
LocationDeath Valley National Park, California
National Register of Historic Places78000297

Further Reading

Scotty’s Castle Map

Scotty’s Castle Personalities

 Albert Mussey Johnson – Death Valley Ranch Owner

Albert Mussey Johnson
Albert Mussey Johnson

Albert Mussey Johnson (1872 – 1948) was a businessman and investor who received notoriety as the millionaire, who built “Scotty’s Castle” in Death Valley, California. He was born into a Quaker family n Oberlin Ohio and attended Cornell University to study engineering.

Johnson borrowed a sum of $40,000 from his father and invested in some mining operations in Joplin, Missouri. This initial investment returned five hundred percent dur to a zinc boom. Albert travelled across Utah and Colorado, in December if 1899, with his father looking for investment opportunities in power production or mining ventures. While on this trip, the father and son team are involved in a rail accident which kills his fater and leaves Albert bedridden with a broken back.

Johnson eventually recovered from his broken back but he suffered with chronic medical issues and walked with a noticeable limp. This injury caused Johnson to focus his professional efforts in economic investment pursuits. He pursue relationships with his fathers partners and soon built up a career as a vice president of the Arkansas Midland Railroad and later the president of the North American Cold Storage Company.

In 1904, Walter Scott AKA Death Valley Scotty ran into Johnson while Scotty is looking for new investors for his gold mines in Death Valley, California. Scott was a conman who would defraud investors of this infamous gold mines. Despite no return on is investment, Johnson continued to send Scott’s ventures.

Death Valley Scotty and the Johnsons
Death Valley Scotty and the Johnsons

Johnson first visited Death Valley in 1906 to tour Scott’s Gold Mines. The two became embroiled in the Battle of Wingate Pass, where Scott’s brother is shot in the groin. This injury forced a retreat from Death Valley. Johnson did not return to Death Valley for another three years. In 1909, he returned to the valley seeking to visit the mines in which he invested. It is said the dry air was a benefit to Johnson’s health. For whatever the reason, Johnson began purchasing land. Johnson purchased about 1500 acres of land. The Steininger Ranch was the most important parcel. Nestled in a spring-fed verdant valley, this was soon to be the site of the Death Valley Ranch.

Scotty's Castle located in Grapevine Canyon in Death Valley.
Scotty’s Castle located in Grapevine Canyon in Death Valley.

In 1922, Johnson started building Scotty’s castle as a vacation home.  When the size and scope of the property was realized, people assumed Scotty used the proceeds for his gold mine to pay for the Ranch.  Scotty, ever the promoter did nothing to correct the record and soon The Johnson’ vacation home.

Due to its remote location, the Death Valley Ranch needed to maintain its own power station and water supply and evaporation cooling system. Despite the conditions, Scotty’s Castle boasts a 1,121 pipe theater organ, fountains, clock tower and a massive unfinished swimming pool.

The stock market crash impacted Johnson’s fortune. He was not able to complete the Death Valley Ranch.

References

Walter Edward Perry Scott – “Death Valley Scotty”

Walter Edward Perry Scott  (September 20, 1872 – January 5, 1954), also known as “Death Valley Scotty”, was a miner, prospector and conman who operated around Death Valley, California. Later in life, he was befriended by Albert Johnson, who built the Death Valley Ranch in Grapevine Canyon in Death Valley, which is commonly known as “Scotty’s Castle“.

Walter Scott (1872 - 1954)
Walter Scott (1872 – 1954)

Early Life and Beginnings

Walter Edward Perry Scott, better known as “Death Valley Scotty,” was born on September 20, 1872, in Cynthiana, Kentucky, the youngest of six children in a family immersed in the harness racing circuit. His early years were spent traveling with his family, fostering a love for adventure and performance. At age 11, Scott left home to join his older brothers, Warner and Bill, on a ranch near Wells, Nevada. His first job in the West was as a water boy for a survey party along the California-Nevada border in 1884, which introduced him to the stark beauty of Death Valley. This early exposure to the desert marked the beginning of a lifelong connection to the region. By 16, his horsemanship skills earned him a spot as a stunt rider in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show, where he toured the United States and Europe for 12 years, honing his flair for showmanship and self-promotion.

The Conman’s Rise to Fame

After a falling out with Buffalo Bill in 1900, Scott turned to gold prospecting, leveraging his charisma to convince wealthy investors to fund his ventures. He claimed to have discovered a lucrative gold mine in Death Valley, a story that was entirely fabricated. In 1902, he began soliciting funds from wealthy backers, including a New Yorker who invested over $5,000 without seeing any returns. Scott’s schemes escalated in 1904 when he claimed to be transporting $12,000 in gold dust on an eastbound train, only for the bag to be “stolen” before reaching Philadelphia, a story that captivated newspapers and launched his reputation as a flamboyant hustler. His most audacious stunt came in 1905, when he chartered the “Coyote Special,” a three-car train, to break the rail speed record from Los Angeles to Chicago in just 44 hours and 54 minutes. The press dubbed him “Death Valley Scotty,” a moniker that stuck for life.

The Battle of Wingate Pass

One of Scott’s most infamous cons was the 1906 “Battle” of Wingate Pass, designed to convince a mining engineer, A.Y. Pearl, and his investors of the existence of his gold mine. When Pearl insisted on seeing the mine, Scott staged an elaborate hoax, leading the group into Death Valley. The expedition turned chaotic when gunfire erupted—likely orchestrated by Scott—creating the illusion of a dangerous ambush. The stunt backfired when investors grew suspicious, but it added to Scott’s growing legend as a roguish figure. Despite the fraud, Scott’s charm and storytelling kept him in the public eye.

Friendship with Albert Johnson and Scotty’s Castle

Scott’s most significant relationship was with Albert Mussey Johnson, a Chicago insurance executive he met in 1904. Johnson, intrigued by Scott’s tales, invested in his fictitious mines. In 1906, Johnson visited Death Valley to inspect the claims, enduring the Wingate Pass fiasco. Surprisingly, Johnson was not deterred by the deception. The desert’s dry air benefited his health, and he developed a genuine fondness for Scott’s eccentric personality. The two formed an unlikely lifelong friendship. In 1922, Johnson and his wife, Bessie, began constructing a lavish Spanish-style mansion in Grapevine Canyon, known as Death Valley Ranch but popularly called Scotty’s Castle. Scott falsely claimed he funded the $1.5–$2.5 million estate with his mining wealth, a myth he perpetuated by entertaining guests with tales of his secret mines. In reality, Johnson built the castle as a vacation home, incorporating luxurious features like a pipe organ, custom furniture, and a Chimes Tower with 25 carillon chimes. Scott lived primarily in a nearby five-room cabin at Lower Vine Ranch, making appearances at the castle to maintain his persona.

Death Valley Scotty and the Johnsons
Death Valley Scotty and the Johnsons

Dubious Reputation and Legal Troubles

Scott’s reputation as a conman was well-earned. He faced lawsuits from creditors in 1912 after falsely claiming to have sold a mine for $12 million, landing him in jail briefly. His schemes often involved fencing stolen high-grade ore, using leased mines as a front. Despite these misdeeds, Scott’s charisma and media savvy kept him a beloved figure. Newspapers called him the “Sphinx of the American Desert” and “King of the Desert Mine,” romanticizing his exploits. His friendship with Johnson shielded him from severe consequences, as Johnson continued to support him financially, even paying him a $30 monthly stipend.

Later Years and Legacy

Construction on Scotty’s Castle halted in the 1930s due to a surveying error revealing the land was federal property and Johnson’s financial troubles during the Great Depression. Johnson willed the estate to the Gospel Foundation, with the condition that Scott could live there until his death. Scott remained a fixture at the castle, regaling tourists with exaggerated stories of his adventures. He died on January 5, 1954, at age 82, and was buried on a hill overlooking the castle beside his dog, Windy. The National Park Service purchased the property in 1970 for $850,000, and it became a major attraction in Death Valley National Park, though it closed in 2015 due to flood damage and a 2021 fire.

Scott’s legacy is a blend of fact and fiction. His grave marker, dedicated by the Death Valley ’49ers Inc., bears his quote: “I got four things to live by. Don’t say anything that will hurt anybody. Don’t give advice—nobody will take it anyway. Don’t complain. Don’t explain.” This encapsulates his philosophy of living large without apology. While his scams and self-promotion earned him a dubious reputation, his friendship with Johnson and the enduring allure of Scotty’s Castle cemented his status as a colorful figure in American frontier history.

References