Death Valley National Park - Furnace Creek Ranch

Death Valley is so big that while visiting Death Valley National Park in February 2015, we stayed inside the park at the Furnace Creek Ranch. The ranch includes an RV park, camp store, restaurants, and the lowest golf course in the country. Lodging consists of duplex cabins, standard rooms in four two-story buildings, and deluxe rooms in two single-story buildings. There are no elevators for the two-story buildings, so you'll have to lug your own luggage up the exterior stairs. All rooms have air conditioning, TV, phone, coffee makers, mini-refrigerators and a private bath. In addition, all rooms are non-smoking. The ranch has been hosting visitors since 1933 and is currently operated by park concessionaire Xanterra Resorts. Our room was clean and well-maintained for its age. The walls are fairly thin, so your conversations may be overheard. The staff at the ranch were friendly, knowledgeable and professional. Hopefully, the rooms will be renovated soon.

There two gas stations in the park are located at Stovepipe Wells Village and Furnace Creek. Be prepared to pay significantly more than average prices for California. There are gas stations 50 miles from Furnace Creek in Beatty, Nevada and 60 miles from Furnace Creek in Pahrump, NV. Lodging is also available in Pahrump. We chose to buy gas in the park and use the time saved to explore Death Valley.

Landscaping utilizes recycled spring water

View from the front lawn of the ranch

A twenty-mule team borax wagon exhibited in front of the ranch

"Old Dinah" was an attempt to replace the mule teams and is also located in front of the ranch

Each wagon could haul 10 tons of borax

Registration building

Furnace Creek Post Office

Morning view of the Panamint Range from the parking area

Sunset on the Funeral Mountains from our patio

An entrance fee of $20 admits all the passengers of a single vehicle for seven days. Other options include an annual Death Valley National Park Pass for $40, an Interagency Annual Pass providing access to most national park, national forest and BLM fee areas for $80 and a lifetime Interagency Senior Pass for those age 62 and older for $10.

The Furnace Creek Resort website is http://www.furnacecreekresort.com/.
The park website is http://www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm.