Walter Scott was born in 1872. He came to Death Valley at the age of 12. His name has been linked to the area ever since. Scotty toured the world with Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Shows for 12 years, after which he returned to the valley. Scotty’s friend Albert Johnson built the Castle that became linked to Scotty’s name.
Kolor View Press ©1975
Located about three hours outside of Las Vegas, in Grapevine Canyon, California, is a “castle” unlike many you have seen in the traditional sense. On one of my grandparents many trips to Las Vegas, they happen to do a little side-trip out to Scotty’s Castle for a little history lesson on why anyone would elect to construct a home in the blazing heat of Death Valley. What I learned of Scotty’s Castle was quite interesting, not necessarily because of the beauty and grandeur of the structure, but more because of the history behind its existence.
The main character associated with the Death Valley Ranch was Mr. Walter Scott. Born in 1872, Mr. Scott fell in love with the Death Valley area at a young age. By the age of 18, Walter was discovered and incorporated into Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show. After traveling with the show for 12 years, he later returned to Death Valley on the promise of the gold rush.
Mr. Scott convinced investors to mine for gold throughout Death Valley. However, failed attempted to extract any valuable gold caused most of his investors to back out.
It was around that time that Walter invited investor Albert Mussey Johnson out to Death Valley. It was there that Mr. Johnson grew fond of the area. Over the next decade, Mr. Johnson and his wife, Bessie Penniman Johnson, continued to visit Death Valley.
Mrs. Johnson eventually convinced Mr. Johnson to build her a home out in the valley. Per the tour (see video below), the original home was quite simple without a lot of embellishments. As the Death Valley Ranch began to get constructed and become more elaborate, Mr. Scott took advantage of the situation by convincing other investors that it was gold money that was building up the area. The funny thing was that Mr. Johnson even went along with the story for the sake of Scotty.
Scotty’s Castle is considered the finest example of a Spanish Castle ever built in America. The legendary Death Valley Scotty gave the Castle fame, and the Desert remoteness makes it unique.
Kolor View Press ©1975
As the home was being constructed, a surveying error was discovered, which resulted in the home being construction on government land. After investing nearly $2,000,000 over a five year period, the house construction was never completed as planned.
What is not completely clear is what happened once it was discovered the home was constructed on federal land.
This room is characteristic of it’s owner, with window shutters inside and out. A painting of Buffalo Bill Cody on the wall, surrounded with Photographs of Annie Oakley and others from his days with Cody’s Wild West Shows. Note the carvings of rattlesnakes and burro’s on the shutters.
Kolor View Press ©1975
This is the Stage and grill work in front of the Welte Mignon organ, which can be played from rolls or played by hand. The piano also plays when rolls are used. The chimes in the great tower can be played from the manual console. The room is probably the favorite in the castle.
Kolor View Press ©1975
Apparently despite the Death Valley Ranch being constructed on government land, the Johnson’s still continued to visit the place until their deaths in the 1940s. The home was willed to a charitable organization who continued to run the place as a hotel and with tours. Surprisingly, Mr. Walter Scott also continued to live on the property until his death in 1954.
Mr. Scott was later buried on a hill overlooking the castle.
To see a tour guided video of Scotty’s Castle, check out this video from YouTube.
The relationship between the Johnson’s and Mr. Scott is quite intriguing, and they definitely found a fondness in each other. Call it charisma or swindling, Mr. Scott had a lasting impact on the Valley.
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Source: InACents
Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotty%27s_Castle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_E._Scott
http://www.nps.gov/deva/historyculture/scottys-castle.htm
http://www.nps.gov/deva/historyculture/scottys-bts-pag11.htm
http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/june/papr/du_dvscotty.html