Death Valley, March 5th, 2014 – Harmony Borax Works and Scotty’s Castle

The Harmony Borax Works.

There are few early works of man in this unforgiving land so you have to admire and wonder at the entrepreneurial efforts of the few that came here. The Harmony Borax Works and the 20-mule teams that operated in the late 1800’s were made famous by a TV show I remember watching when I was a kid. The Borax Works and interpretive trail are along the highway just north of Furnace Creek. It’s a fascinating story about how borax was mined and processed.   

Harmony Borax Works extractor.

The 20-mule team wagons.

Scotty's Castle.

Court yard.

Our next stop is Scotty’s Castle. We’ve seen pictures but this eloquent structure is so much more impressive and amazing when seen in its place in the middle of a rugged land. It was built at an oasis in a canyon lush with native palms. The original name was Death Valley Ranch and was constructed in the 1920s by Walter Scott aka Death Valley Scotty with financing by Albert and Bessie Johnson. It was an interesting collaboration and partnership and one of the most fascinating stories of Death Valley.

Front door.

The castle was built as a vacation home for the Johnsons and also served as a destination lodge for visitors. You would certainly feel like royalty staying in such an elaborately appointed place. You would also have had the pleasure of being entertained by Death Valley Scotty who said that he never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

The Castle is a museum with everything in place as it was. Park service guides dress in period costume to tell you about the life and times of Death Valley Scotty as they guide the tours. Don’t miss it.

Tomorrow we hike Ubehebe Crater.

Till then,

Our Guide.

Jackie














The water wall fountain in the living room.

The living room.



Dragon fire irons.

A guest room for royalty.

The guests living room.

We exit the castle through the tower door and

down the spiral stairs.