We got up late that morning; all of us were incredibly tired from our hike the previous day! We planned to spend the first half of this day exploring Furnace Creek Inn and Ranch, as well as the National Park Visitor Center.
Furnace Creek Inn has always been one of my favorite Death Valley attractions. I have always loved exploring its elaborate and posh hallways, rooms, and gardens, especially when I was a kid. Someday I would love to be able to stay there. I considered getting married at Furnace Creek Inn, but it was such a remote location that it wouldn’t have been suitable as an easy location for guests. It’s a gorgeous hotel that carries all of the elegance and cosmopolitanism that people assume Death Valley lacks. It is spectacular, and worth a look around (or even a stay, if you can afford it!).
We started our exploration outside the Inn near the entrance. There was a cute fountain in front where the main valet parking area was along with stairs leading up to the lobby.
The main lobby of the Inn was beautiful! There was a gorgeous set of stairs leading to the main front door which led to two stunning lobby areas, a gift shop, glass cases packed with Death Valley history, a dining room, and the front desk. The side area had a large wrap around veranda that connected to some of the first floor rooms on that side of the Inn.
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| Front deck area |
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| Main lobby. There was a beautiful bar behind the fireplace; the restaurant is to the right. |
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| Other lobby area to the left of the front desk |
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| Old Grandfather clock outside the gift shop |
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| Outside veranda with adjoining rooms |
The history in the lobby was one of my favorite parts. They had old menus and guest lists from parties hosted throughout the decades as well as mementoes and replicas from mining days. There were also numerous Native American jewelry and art designs.
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| Centennial event at the Oasis Room celebrating the Death Valley 49ers |
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| Celebrating the 1849 49ers in 1949 |
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| Guest list for the Centennial Event |
Don’s favorite part was the pictures of burros. Burros and mules were a BIG deal in Death Valley (stay tuned for the blog about the 12 mule team). Don got a kick out of all the celebrated mules, burros, and donkeys who helped shape Death Valley!
Death Valley 49ers is still a group to this day! It is an entirely all-volunteer, non-profit organization that works to spread knowledge about the beauty that is Death Valley and celebrate its history. Each year the Death Valley 49ers have an Encampment, which includes art shows, poker tournaments, filling and picking contests, a golf tournament, photography show, craft show, and quilt raffle. If you are ever in Death Valley during an encampment, you should check it out! Over the years, the Death Valley 49ers has been led by numerous talented desert-lovers who have helped to preserve what Death Valley stands for.
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| Ray Sisson; a good friend of my Father’s |
We meandered down the hotel a bit, poked our head in a room to check it out, thanks to a kind hotel staff member, and made our way outside to the gardens. The gardens of the Inn have always been my absolute favorite, especially when I was a kid. The gardens are covered in gorgeous, super tall palm trees, bright green grass, little pools and waterfalls, and beautiful stone work. At the back side of the gardens, before the pool, was a little gazebo where weddings are held.
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| Beautiful palm trees |
The pathways in the gardens led to the beautiful and elegant Furnace Creek Inn pool.
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| Lazy donkeys! |
After we finished exploring the Inn, we drove down the highway a bit and stopped at Furnace Creek Ranch. Despite sharing a name and being very close in proximity, Furnace Creek Ranch is nothing like the Inn. The Ranch is less posh and expensive and caters more to the average tourist and family. The Ranch has a newly-renovated hotel, Borax Museum (more on that later), golf course, pool, tennis courts, gift shops, and restaurants (watch the restaurants at Furnace Creek Ranch, they are spendy…you’re better off cooking at camp or driving out to Stovepipe Wells).
The entrance to Furnace Creek Ranch was always fun; it depicts the 20 mule team famous at the Harmony Borax Works.
What makes Furnace Creek Ranch so historically interesting is it holds the record for the highest recorded temperature in Death Valley, a whopping 134° F on July 10, 1913. The temperature and corresponding date are proudly displayed throughout the Ranch.
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| Un…no. |
Right outside the temperature sign and near the main entrance is a General Store and the Forty Niner Cafe.
Furnace Creek Ranch is also famous for its date palms, a type of palm tree known for its super sweet fruit – dates. They’re very tasty and quite good for you! Death Valley loves its dates – you can buy them in packages all over the area; don’t be surprised if you find date shakes, date bread, or date cookies either! You can take a walk through the date grove and find your own too!
Also featured at the Furnace Creek Ranch is the world’s lowest elevation golf course, sitting at 214 feet below sea level.
The golf course had a hamburger stand with a built-on driver-thru for golf carts. I got such a kick out of it.
Don and Donna of course insisted on sinking some holes-in-one.
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| Got their golf cart |
The back end of the golf course leads across a very tight RV/Camp spot (Texas Springs was much better), and finally into the Furnace Creek Visitor Center. I have always loved the visitor center. You learn so many interesting things about Death Valley and the desert in general when you explore through there. Each time I’ve been in there they have updated exhibits and new information to learn.
Outside the visitor center is the famous thermometer. It was slightly broken the day we went, as you can tell by the pictures below, but the temperature was accurate. It was a mere 86° F that day! No biggie.
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| Proudly wearing his Death Valley Hikers Association T-Shirt! Get one here |
We spent the rest of the early afternoon walking around the visitor center checking out the exhibits. They had tons of interesting ones; animals, ecology, geology, weather, history, preservation of the desert, and mining, to name a few.
I turned around at one point and caught Don and Donna climbing on the Desert Bighorn Sheep. I think Don thought they were donkeys.
If you are ever in Death Valley, exploring the Inn, Ranch, and Visitor Center is a must on your to-do list. It’s fun to learn and experience Death Valley’s ecology and history.
