Stovepipe Wells

Stovepipe Wells is strategically located for your ideal Death Valley National Park vacation. The beautiful rooms are comfortable and accommodating of all but an in-room telephone. Some rooms have televisions, most do not. This low technology feeling is a charming attribute of Stovepipe Wells that enables guests to embrace the natural beauty of Death Valley. (Don't worry, your cell phones should work. Your Death Valley National Park vacation might be a great opportunity to turn them off, though, or at least on a silent setting.) The lower, gentler technology is complimented by the high level of personal service the hotel provides. The grounds are also low lit to promote stellar star gazing in a special courtyard designed specifically for this purpose. Few places on earth allow for the galactic view that Death Valley touts.

Guest rooms are situated with views of either the beautifully vast Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes and the mountains that cradle them or looking into a peaceful and historic inner courtyard. The hotel features a presentation lounge, sizable banquet room, pool with cabana pool lounge and a cozy library. Stovepipe Wells Village also has such amenities as a restaurant, saloon, gift shop, historic service station, general store, star gazing courtyard and access to the several surrounding trail heads.

Beyond the village is convenient access to Death Valley National Park's famed natural attractions. The Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, Mosaic Canyon, Furnace Creek, Devil's Cornfield and Artist's Palette are all right at hand by way of the trail heads from The Stovepipe Wells Village.

As well as the nature-made sights, Scotty's Castle, Barker Ranch and Russell Camp are also not far off. Scotty's Castle is an actual castle with inexpensive tours of the historic ground level areas of the castle, the underground castle tour and the Lower Vine Ranch tour, which is where the builder resided. Barker Ranch was the last hideout of Charles Manson. Russell Camp was created by a one-legged miner whose ashes and prosthetic leg are buried at the top of the mountain pass named after him, Mengal Pass. Old movie buffs might also recognize the landscapes as over 100 movies and TV episodes had one or more scenes filmed in Death Valley. This list includes Star Wars, Return of the Jedi, Spartacus and the original Tarzan and spans from 1920 to the present.

Day hikes, star gazing, historic tours, wildflower viewing and even the annual Lone Pine Film Festival are activities that many visitors to Death Valley National Park enjoy. Stovepipe Wells is the perfect Death Valley National Park vacation spot nestled among the most curious natural phenomenon in the lowest, driest and potentially hottest location in North America. Don't fret, Death Valley is a rare anomaly that is safely visited by over 800,000 people a year. Come prepared and stay hydrated.