Scotty's Castle After the 2015 Flood
Chicago insurance man Albert Johnson built Scotty's Castle in Grapevine Canyon in the 1920s and 30s, and the mansion has been part of Death Valley National Park since 1970. Walter Scott, a prospector and showman, claimed the place as his own and lived there at Johnson's expense.
The October 2015 flood
A storm hit the canyon with heavy rain on October 18, 2015. The flood ripped out miles of road, packed buildings with mud and debris, and damaged water and power lines, and the park closed the site. Crews have since rebuilt the road, the utilities, the visitor center and parts of the historic buildings, and they've also made repairs after an April 2021 fire destroyed the historic garage.
For the 2026 to 2027 season, the National Park Service is offering guided exterior tours most Saturdays and Sundays from October 10 through April 17, with tickets through the Death Valley Natural History Association (dvnha.org). The park says the earliest likely date for a full reopening is November 2028. Plans can change with the construction schedule, so check the park's website before you go.
Desert Eccentric tells the story of Scotty and Albert Johnson.
Sources: National Park Service, Death Valley National Park: "Flash Floods of 2015"; "Fire at Scotty's Castle Destroys One Historic Outbuilding, Damages Another" (April 22, 2021); "Tours Offered at Scotty's Castle as Restoration Continues" (October 8, 2026).
Illustration: AI-generated, artistic interpretation.