This sprawling Spanish-inspired castle is a surprising sight in Death Valley. It was built in the 1920s by millionaire Albert Mussey Johnson, as a vacation spot for himself and his wife – however, his crafty friend Walter Scott, who'd duped him into pumping money into a fraudulent mine in the area, took credit for the structure (hence the name).

Building work was halted in the 1930s, when Johnson discovered he was constructing on federal land, and the castle was abandoned. The deserted structure is now part of Death Valley National Park but is currently closed due to severe flooding in 2015 followed by a fire. However, between January through March 2026, guided "Flood Recovery Tours" are on select Sundays, covering the grounds and some outbuildings.

Abandoned in the USA: 91 places left to rot