GET-YUR-MOTOR-RUNNIN' ROAD TRIP
(Astoria - Santa Fe - Death Valley - Astoria)
Death Valley National Park, CA
November 11, 2013 (Day 28 of 44)
Miles Today: 134 / Trip Miles: 3,279
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Photos:
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All photos © 2014 Leon Jackson. All Rights Reserved.
Scotty's Castle:
Scotty's Castle is not located in Death Valley. It is located in the Grapevine Mountains bordering southeastern Death Valley. Sitting at an elevation of 3,000 feet, the temperature is much cooler than on the valley floor. Death Valley Ranch, or Scotty's Castle as it is more commonly known, is a two-story Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival style villa. Scotty's Castle is neither a real castle, nor did it belong to the "Scotty" from whom it got its name. Scotty's Castle is a window into the life and times of the Roaring 20's and the Depression 30's.
The story behind Scotty's Castle is multi-faceted. The following is only part of the story. Scotty's Castle was an engineer's dream home, a wealthy matron's vacation home and a man-of-mystery's hideout and getaway. Prospector, performer, and con man Walter Scott, also known as “Death Valley Scotty”, convinced Chicago millionaire Albert Johnson to invest in his gold mine in the Death Valley area. By 1937, Johnson had acquired more than 1,500 acres in Grapevine Canyon, where the ranch is located. Walter Scott, aka Death Valley Scotty, convinced everyone that he had built the castle with money from his rich secret mines in the area. Actually, Albert Johnson built the house as a vacation getaway for himself and his wife Bessie. Scotty was the mystery, the cowboy, and the entertainer, but he was also a friend. Johnson was the brains and the money.
Scotty’s philosophy is carved on his gravestone high on a hill overlooking the castle: "I got four things to live by: Don’t say nothing that will hurt anybody. Don’t give advice—nobody will take it anyway. Don’t complain. Don’t explain." Scotty and Albert were two men as different as night and day, from different worlds and with different visions—who shared a dream. The creative team for Scotty's Castle consisted of architect Martin de Dubovay, engineer and head of construction Mat Roy Thompson, and designer Charles MacNeilledge. Construction began in 1922, and cost $1.5 to $2.5 million. The project was never completed.
Mary and I took the guided underground tour—visiting the basement and tunnels under Scotty's Castle. Innovative uses of technology allowed Scotty's Castle to be nearly self-sufficient. The colorful tile intended for the unfinished swimming pool is stored in the many underground tunnels. (Rating = B+)
Scotty's Castle
Scotty's Castle, situated at an elevation of 3,000 feet in a green oasis, is located in the Grapevine Mountains east of northern Death Valley. Shown in the photo is the unfinished swimming pool.
[flickr]
Scotty's Castle, situated at an elevation of 3,000 feet in a green oasis, is located in the Grapevine Mountains east of northern Death Valley. Shown in the photo is the unfinished swimming pool.
[flickr]
View From Tower
View of Grapevine Valley oasis through the iron bars in a tower at Scotty's Castle.
[flickr]
View of Grapevine Valley oasis through the iron bars in a tower at Scotty's Castle.
[flickr]
Architectural Elements
The Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture of Scotty's Castle is exemplified in this photo.
[flickr]
The Mission Revival and Spanish Colonial Revival style architecture of Scotty's Castle is exemplified in this photo.
[flickr]
Ubehebe Crater & Little Hebe:
We hiked along the rim of Ubehebe to Little Hebe—a short (half-mile plus) hike, but steep with soft and loose footing. Winds at the rim of Ubehebe are very strong and often gust above 50 mph. Ubehebe Crater is a large volcanic crater 500-800 feet deep, and half a mile across. The rim of Ubehebe is 2,500 feet high. The age of the crater is estimated to be 2,000 to 7,000 years old. "Ubehebe" (pronounced YOU-bee-HEE-bee) is a Timbisha Native American word meaning "big basket in the rock". Little Hebe is a spatter cone. The only significant deposit of lava in the volcanic field is contained in Little Hebe. (Rating = B+)
This view of Death Valley and Ubehebe Crater is from the rim of Little Hebe (a volcanic spatter cone). The trail to Little Hebe runs along the rim of Ubehebe Crater. Ubehebe Crater, in the shadows, is 500-800 feet deep, and half a mile across. Elevation at the rim of Little Hebe is approximately 2,800 feet.
[flickr]
[flickr]
No Bridges:
This northern area of Death Valley is a good place not to be during flash floods. Instead of bridges, concrete road surfaces replace asphalt surfaces across washes where flooding occurs. The road from Ubehebe Crater to the junction of Scotty's Castle Road & Daylight Pass Road is a fast, fun, rollercoaster-type road.
View of Death Valley and the Grapevine Mountains looking east from Ubehebe Crater.
[flickr]
View of Death Valley, the Last Chance Range (on left) and Grapevine Mountains (on right) looking north from Ubehebe Crater.
[flickr]
Trivia:
Death Valley is the hottest place on Earth. In July 1913, five consecutive days of 129°F or above were recorded in Death Valley. On July 10, 1913 a reading of 134 degrees Fahrenheit was taken in Death Valley, the world record hottest air temperature.
Today's Route & Destinations:
Overall Scenic Rating: A-
Overall Scenic Rating: A-
Driving Fun/Road Rating: A-
Tomorrow:
Death Valley - Harmony Borax works, Mustard Canyon and Natural Bridge Canyon.
2 comments:
I want Scotty's Castle. Love that Mediterranean, Mission Revival architecture. What's a spatter cone? All the photos are wonderful, but particularly love the Death Valley North #2. Makes you feel as though you could walk right into heaven.
Good question! A spatter cone is a volcanic cone formed from molten lava ejected from a vent. It has the viscosity somewhat like taffy. The partly liquid rock which splashes down and over the sides of the developing mound is called spatter.
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