By admin 
In the 1920s, a wealthy insurance mogul from Chicago built himself and his wife a castle on their ranch in northern Death Valley. Scotty’s Castle, which still stands within Death Valley National Park, has a fascinating backstory involving a shady character called Death Valley Scotty and rumors of gold in the desert.
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For decades, the red-roofed, Spanish-Mediterranean castle, which is operated by the National Park Service, was open to the public. But a devastating flood in 2015, when year’s worth of rain fell on the area in a matter of hours, caused an estimated $47 million dollars in damage to the historic structure.
The extent and cost of the repairs needed, as well as a fire in 2021, have delayed the reopening of the castle and the surrounding area. The castle is still off-limits to the public, and even the road to the site is closed.
However, reservations are now available for special tours of the castle grounds, starting in October 2026 until April 2027. There are three types of tours, and last year, tickets sold out fast. All tours are the outside the castle only.
The two standard tours, conducted by either members of the National Park Service or the Death Valley Natural History Association, are two hours long and cost $37.10. Park admittance is not included with the fee.
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The tours take place on most weekends until April 2027, and begin at either 9:30 a.m. or 1 p.m. Proceeds from the sales go to restoring Scotty’s Castle.
Special private tours for small groups are also available, starting at $318 and operated by the Natural History Association.
As for why visitors are not currently allowed inside the castle, according to the association website, “mice in the area have tested positive for hantavirus; inside portions require thorough biohazard disinfection before they can safely resume.”
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