Oct 20, 2011 death valley scotty was a larger than life character who gained fame as a wild west show preformer. Death valley scottys recordbreaking train ride trains magazine. Death valley scotty wandering through time and place. Aug 23, 2018 johnson built a castle in death valley, calif. Death valley, ca scottys castle interior music room.
Scottys castle also known as death valley ranch is a twostory mission revival and spanish colonial revival style villa located in the grapevine mountains of northern death valley in death valley national park, california, us. Scottys castle mansion n the middle of death valley. He next moved to the west and became a prospectorgoldminercon man who bilked many. Walter death valley scotty scott claimed to have found a rich gold mine in death valley in 1902. Scotty died in 1954 and is buried on the grounds of. In 1905 he pulled off one of his most successful selfpromotions. Hinze, last surviving member of santa fe train crews who handled death valley scotty special in july 1905.
Advanced tickets for scottys castle tours may be purchased at. Get the best deals on death valley collectible california postcards when you shop the largest online selection at. Scottys castle and museum is located on scottys castle road at the north end of death valley, 53 miles from furnace creek. Death valley scottys 1906 national model e touring car. Hidden in the green oasis of grapevine canyon in far northern death valley, the death valley ranch, or scottys castle as it is more commonly known, is a window into the life and times of the roaring 20s and depression 30s. In february 1906, he traveled with scotty to california, but gunmen ambushed the party along the way, and johnson never got to see the mysterious mine. He was born in cynthiana, kentucky in 1872 and raised on a horse farm.
Walter edward perry scott, also known as death valley scotty, was a prospector, performer, and con man who was made famous by his many scams involving gold mining and the iconic mansion in death valley, known as scottys castle. The local newspapers were all over this amazing story about both the train feat as well as the secretive person behind it. In 1906, scotty was taking an investors group to see one of his death valley gold mines, which didnt really exist. Death valley days s3e16 death valley scotty youtube. Hidden in the green oasis of grapevine canyon in far northern death valley, the death valley ranch, or scotty s castle as it is more commonly known, is a window into the life and times of the roaring 20s and depression 30s. The train consisted of engine number 442, baggage car number 210, dining car 1407, and the standard pullman car muskegon, the three cars weighing exactly 170 tons. Death valley scotty robert carter historical fiction books.
It was and is an engineers dream home, a wealthy matrons vacation home and a manofmysterys hideout and getaway. As the train sped along the 2,265 mile journey, bulletins were flashed from the railroad to the. N estled in the bottom of grapevine canyon in northern death valley is the spanishstyle mansion known as scottys castle, or death valley ranch. Walter edward perry scott, better known as death valley scotty was a prospector, performer, and con man who was made famous by his many scams involving gold mining and the iconic mansion in death valley, california known as scottys castle the youngest of six children, walter edward perry scott was was born in cynthiana, kentucky in 1872 and raised on a horse farm. Scotty, the hero, reaches blind canyon in time to save his old friend pedro from a bunch of frolicsome cowboys. Reservations available for all scottys castle tours death. On january 7, 1948, albert johnson died at the age of 76, leaving his ranch forever unfinished. In an amazing national park like death valley, scottys castle is a great place to stop. To find the map for the driving distance from scottys castle to death valley national park, please enter the source and destination and then select the driving mode. At age eleven, he ran off to nevada to join his two older brothers, warner and bill. As for death valley scotty and his recordbreaking train ride, download the pdf below to see santa fe railways account of the trip.
Scottys castle continues death valley national park u. One of the most interesting and strange stories to come out of the death valley california early 1900s gold fields has to do with a man referred to by friends and foes alike as well as by the press as death valley scotty. As newspapers repeated his wild tales, he became a folk hero known as death valley scotty. Scottys castle is named for gold prospector walter e. The author did an incredible job researching and then bringing death valley scotty back to life in this cool story. Death valley days death valley scotty tv episode 1955 imdb. Get the best deals on death valley collectible california postcards when you shop. Death valley scottys recordbreaking train ride trains. Depending on the vehicle you choose, you can also calculate the amount of co2 emissions from your vehicle and assess the environment impact. When death valley scotty rode high esquire april, 1947. Death valley scotty departed on july 9, 1905, aboard a train called the coyote special that consisted of a steam locomotive, baggage car, sleeper car, and a dining car. With jack lomas, william schallert, john hubbard, gordon barnes.
Dec 02, 2019 scottys grave on the hill trail to scottys grave. Van loan who was also on board, the train was met with fanfare and huge crowds in every city. Legend has it, scott threw out handfuls of dollar bills to the crowd in chicago at the trips end. Baby gauge train at ryan death valley frashers rppc photo early 1940s. Death valley days death valley scotty tv episode 1955. The local newspapers were all over this amazing story about both the. While there were some gold mines in death valley, none of them belonged to scotty. Scott is the subject of the 1955 episode, death valley scotty, on the syndicated television anthology series death valley days, hosted by stanley andrews. Only a few people were on board the train with scotty including a few reporters. Unfortunately, the quick way is also the ugliest way to go.
Walter scott, better known as death valley scotty death valley scotty walter edward perry scott, better known as death valley scotty was a prospector, performer, and con man who was made famous by his many scams involving gold mining and the iconic mansion in death valley, california known as scottys castle. The man who arranged the event was a public con man and minor celebrity named water scott, known to his public as death valley scotty. Death valley scottys wild ride chicago history today. Scottys castle is closed until 2020, however, walking tours of the scottys castle grounds are available. In 1926, walter scott death valley scotty convinced albert johnson to build a splendid ranch in death valley and began construction in 1927. The train did, making 2,265mile trip in 44 hours, 54 minutes, a new crosscountry record. This was the train which came to be known as the death valley coyote and the scott special. The massive home, complete with turrets, fountains, and a huge pipe organ, has a striking and unusual history that has captivated visitors for a century. Scotty s castle also known as death valley ranch is a twostory mission revival and spanish colonial revival style villa located in the grapevine mountains of northern death valley in death valley national park, california, us.
Death valley collectible california postcards for sale ebay. This episode recreates the recordbreaking run of the scott special, a passenger train of the atchison, topeka and santa fe railway commissioned by walter. Many potential visitors ignore the park due to the misconception that it is simply a lifeless, empty landscape, but this 3. Johnson eventually decided to settle in death valley on scottys land and build the death valley castle. Known to the world as death valley scotty, he was a relentless. His first job after arriving by train was as a water boy for a survey party along the californianevada. All of the routes between las vegas and death valley are shown on the map above. It was called the battle of wingate passbut it was a con job by the famed walter death valley scotty scott. It is a beautiful piece of history as well as a look into the lavish lifestyle of some well off people in the 1930s. Ive been thinking some of taking a train over your road to chicago, scott. Walter scott, better known as death valley scotty legends. Scotty has previously advised pedro that he has blown in his last thousand dollars and instructs him to get the pack train ready for another trip to the mine. Recorded by stan kistler and donated to california state railroad museum on nov.
The train was frontpage news for three days in papers across the country, and crowds of thousands came out to watch it pass. Walter scott, aka death valley scotty and a train in chicago in 1926. And why not they were guaranteed a great story, free meal and all the booze they could consume. The flamboyant death valley scotty has local roots. In grapevine canyon, a region of death valley often called the land of mirages, sits scotty s castle, a scenic gem and a testament to the man who helped bring fame and tourism to this scorched. His first job after arriving by train was as a water boy for a survey party along the californianevada state line, part of which ran close to death valley. A 32,000squarefoot twostory spanish villa in grapevine canyon. This episode recreates the recordbreaking run of the scott special, a passenger train of the atchison, topeka and santa fe railway commissioned by walter e. Scotty s castle and museum is located on scotty s castle road at the north end of death valley, 53 miles from furnace creek. Walter scott 1872 1954 aka death valley scotty walter scott was the youngest of six children. In grapevine canyon, a region of death valley often called the land of mirages, sits scottys castle, a scenic gem and a testament to the man who helped bring fame and tourism to this scorched.
The death valley national park is a united states national park that is located primarily in the southern california desert, with a small portion extending into nevada. The actor jack lomas 19111959 played scotty, who in 1905 commissioned the scott special, a passenger train of the atchison, topeka and santa fe railway. Scotty s castle is named for gold prospector walter e. Railroad museum to present suspenseful new exhibit death. Map from scottys castle to death valley national park. That route and other more scenic ones are detailed below. Feb 20, 2017 268 videos play all death valley days full episode this is invader scotty s castle interior tour death valley ranch, california duration. When the survey was completed scott found work with harmony borax works in the valley. Scott, although scott never owned it, nor is it an actual castle. Builtin 1927 by wealthy insurance executive albert johnson, smack dab in the middle of death valley national park, is scottys castle.
Railroad museum presents death valley scottys race for. Jul 28, 2002 in grapevine canyon, a region of death valley often called the land of mirages, sits scotty s castle, a scenic gem and a testament to the man who helped bring fame and tourism to this scorched. But if youre looking for some words written by a participant in this unusual story, this little book might be useful. Beside the corpse was a dog dying of thirst, and in the mans pocket was a piece of rock glittering with pure gold. Death valley scotty was a larger than life character who gained fame as a wild west show preformer. Scotty lived in the castle and each night regaled paying guests with his exploits over the past century. Around the beginning of the 20th century, walter e.
The sante fe train made the trip in 44 hours and 54 minutes, a record that stood for thirty years. Before construction was complete, scotty was referring to the ranch as my castle. Death valley scotty certainly remains death valleys greatest legend for his. Then pick up the april 2012 issue of trains magazine for the rest of the story and decide for yourself. Photo from the chicago daily news negatives collection, dn0003451. Scott scotty to his friends was passing through death valley, california, when he happened upon a dead man. The book that provides a good and generally credible overview of that was hank johnstons, death valley scotty. I would recommend taking some time to check it out. Aways trying to keep his name in front of the public, in 1905 he. Reservations available for all scottys castle tours.
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