Flood repairs to Scotty’s Castle in Death Valley may cost $20M — PHOTOS
Scotty’s Castle will require millions of dollars in repairs for flood damage, a Death Valley National Park spokeswoman said Saturday.
“I’d say $10 million is a conservative estimate, $20 million is a conservative estimate,” said spokeswoman Abby Wines.
Fortunately, the main building and attraction, the castle itself, suffered only minor water damage from a small leak in the roof, according to spokeswoman Linda Slater. The rest of the damage could take up to six months to repair.
Part of the road leading to Scotty’s Castle was washed away and covered in debris. Roads were secure enough for four-wheel-drive vehicles to make it to the castle Saturday.
Workers are now able to get to the site and begin assessing the damage. However, more improvements are necessary before dump trucks are able to drive to the site and begin cleanup efforts, Slater said.
Some of the repercussions from the flooding include having one mile of water line exposed and ripped out, 29 power poles torn down and sewer lines destroyed.
The mud and debris is as thick as several feet in some areas. The debris nearly covered door handles and reached the bottoms of windows, and the parking lot is almost unrecognizable.
“We were very lucky there were no deaths or injuries,” Wines said.
The flooding damaged the visitor center, bookstore, offices and exhibits, according to the spokeswoman.
A historic building expert is expected to assess damage made to another building on the property that Slater referred to as the garage long house. They believe the building to be structurally unsound. One wall is cracked and bulging out in some areas.
Scotty’s Castle is closed to the public and trespassing is now punishable by up to a $5,000 fine or six months in jail, according to a sign posted inside the park.
The area around Scotty’s Castle received 2.7 inches of rain in just five hours Sunday.
The total amount of damage was still being determined.
Contact photographer Brett LeBlanc at bleblanc@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5257. Contact Lawren Linehan at llinehan@reviewjournal.com or at 702-383-0391. Find her on Twitter: @lawrenlinehan.