Tours Offered at Scotty’s Castle as Restoration Continues

 Tours Offered at Scotty’s Castle as Restoration Continues

For Immediate Release: October 8, 2026
Contact: [email protected]

DEATH VALLEY, Calif. — Visitors will have a limited opportunity to explore the historic grounds of Scotty’s Castle this season while the National Park Service (NPS) continues repairs and restoration work. Guided exterior tours will be offered most Saturdays and Sundays from Oct. 10 through April 17. Private weekday tours are also available for small groups upon request.

The tours offer visitors an opportunity to experience one of Death Valley National Park’s most recognizable historic landmarks and learn about ongoing restoration efforts. Tours will be led by NPS rangers and guides from the Death Valley Natural History Association. Tickets for all tours are available at dvnha.org.

Located in the northern part of Death Valley National Park, Scotty’s Castle is a 1920s Spanish Revival-style estate built by Chicago businessman Albert Johnson as a winter retreat for himself and his wife, Bessie. The estate became famous through Johnson’s friend Walter “Scotty” Scott, whose colorful stories helped attract public interest. Known for its distinctive architecture, dramatic desert setting and unusual history, Scotty’s Castle remains one of the park’s most treasured historic sites.

Scotty’s Castle has been closed since October 2015, when a flash flood caused extensive damage to buildings, roads, utilities and the historic landscape. Since then, the NPS has completed significant repairs to critical infrastructure and continues working toward reopening the site.

The next phase of construction is expected to begin in 2027 and will include repairs to the parking lot, historic Longshed and historic Gas Tank House. The Gas Tank House will also be adapted for use as a small visitor contact station. Once construction is complete, curatorial staff will return historic furnishings and museum collections to the Castle in preparation for resuming interior tours.

Based on current project timelines, the earliest anticipated date for a full reopening of Scotty’s Castle is November 2028. The park will continue to provide updates as restoration work progresses.

nps.gov

About the National Park Service.  Established in 1916, the National Park Service preserves America’s most treasured natural and cultural places for the enjoyment, education and inspiration of current and future generations. Learn more at nps.gov.