Scotty's Castle

kdog

I've been by Scotty's Castle in Death Valley twice in the past couple of months, and both times I was in kind of a rush. The last time was with Aaron on our way to the Racetrack. It was mid-afternoon, and I grabbed a few shots.

Castle


Window


Paradise Denied


And two quick shots from my previous trip....
Doorway


The Moat


Thanks for looking. :thumb
-joel

DonRicklin

Looks like a place for some interesting shooting. Thanks for posting.

Don

kdog

DonRicklin wrote:

Looks like a place for some interesting shooting. Thanks for posting.

Don

Thanks, Don.

-joel

torags

Hey Joel..

Thanks for posting, I'm hoping to make it there in March.

How far away is the dunes area east of the castle and is it accessible by vehicle or hike in? Most importantly, do you think it's worth a shoot (sunrise? sunset? late day?)

I never been there, would appreciate your views.

kdog

torags wrote:

Hey Joel..

Thanks for posting, I'm hoping to make it there in March.

How far away is the dunes area east of the castle and is it accessible by vehicle or hike in? Most importantly, do you think it's worth a shoot (sunrise? sunset? late day?)

I never been there, would appreciate your views.

Thanks, Rags. There are dunes east of the Castle? That's news to me. The park ends just a bit to the east of Scotty's, then you're on the long road out to 95 at Scotty's Junction on 95. Not much there I didn't think.

The only dunes I know of are the big ones near Stovepipe wells. I guess those are south-southeast from the castle, probably 60 miles away or more. You park on the side of 190 and hike into those.

The rest of your questions about driving in, time of day, etc. Are you asking specifically about the dunes or Scotty's?

Regards,
-joel

Tango

wow thats wild, ive never known of this....

now was that a pool at one time (with windows?)
kinda looks like a shark tank with windows to watch feeding time....
im thinking a James Bond scenario....

kdog

AaronNelson wrote:

wow thats wild, ive never known of this....

now was that a pool at one time (with windows?)
kinda looks like a shark tank with windows to watch feeding time....
im thinking a James Bond scenario....

Thanks, Aaron. Yeah, I'm guessing kind of a swimming pond/moat.

The history of the castle and "Death Valley Scotty" is pretty bizarre. I think it would make a great movie.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_E._Scott

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottys_Castle

Tango

well theres your excuse to get the 5d2....

torags

kdog wrote:

Thanks, Rags. There are dunes east of the Castle? That's news to me. The park ends just a bit to the east of Scotty's, then you're on the long road out to 95 at Scotty's Junction on 95. Not much there I didn't think.

The only dunes I know of are the big ones near Stovepipe wells. I guess those are south-southeast from the castle, probably 60 miles away or more. You park on the side of 190 and hike into those.

The rest of your questions about driving in, time of day, etc. Are you asking specifically about the dunes or Scotty's?

Regards,
-joel

Ooops... It was Stovepipe Wells (Mesquite Flat) I was thinking about.

What's the best way in; Rt 373 or Rt 374 from LV.? I'll probably stay at Stovepipe & catch Mesquite at sunrise.

thanks for your help

kdog

torags wrote:

What's the best way in; Rt 373 or Rt 374 from LV.? I'll probably stay at Stovepipe & catch Mesquite at sunrise.

I think 374 out of Beatty is generally accepted as being the quickest route. Nothing wrong with a little longer drive on 373 though as you'll see more of the park. Maybe make it a loop and take that way back home.

You're in Vegas then?

Cheers,
-joel

kdog

AaronNelson wrote:

well theres your excuse to get the 5d2....

Good point. Maybe I can get you to play Scotty.

Awais Yaqub

Interesting location ! very beautiful photographs

torags

kdog wrote:

I think 374 out of Beatty is generally accepted as being the quickest route. Nothing wrong with a little longer drive on 373 though as you'll see more of the park. Maybe make it a loop and take that way back home.

You're in Vegas then?

Cheers,
-joel

Nah.. I'll be coming in from Florida on the way back from a cross country. I'm going thru LV from Coyote Buttes.

Tango

kdog wrote:

Good point. Maybe I can get you to play Scotty.

my first staring role.... i finally got that big break


i think F-stop would fill the "Wild Bill" role just fine....

and ISO could be the Goverment Agent on Scottys case....

dogwood

Nice shots. That area (Scotty's Castle) seems to have really weird karma compared to other parts of the park. Just always seems a little Twilight Zone to me-- especially in that gift shop/cafe.

Were there coyotes hanging out and begging? I've seen them practically run up to cars pulling into the lot.

In terms of "nearby" dunes, there are also the Eureka Dunes towards California in the northern part of the park but it's a LONG drive on mostly dirt roads from Scotty's Castle.

kdog

Awais Yaqub wrote:

Interesting location ! very beautiful photographs

Thanks, Awais!!

-joel

kdog

AaronNelson wrote:

my first staring role.... i finally got that big break


i think F-stop would fill the "Wild Bill" role just fine....

and ISO could be the Goverment Agent on Scottys case....

kdog

dogwood wrote:

Nice shots. That area (Scotty's Castle) seems to have really weird karma compared to other parts of the park. Just always seems a little Twilight Zone to me-- especially in that gift shop/cafe.

Were there coyotes hanging out and begging? I've seen them practically run up to cars pulling into the lot.

In terms of "nearby" dunes, there are also the Eureka Dunes towards California in the northern part of the park but it's a LONG drive on mostly dirt roads from Scotty's Castle.

Thanks, Dogwood. Didn't see any coyote beggers around Scotties at all. But we were accosted by one on the other end of the park. I posted some pics in this thread here: http://dgrin.com/showthread.php?t=117986

torags

The pix of the Ibex (nr Saratoga Spring) dunes seem to show them as higher than Mesquite, anybody been there?

What's the hike in like?