# Forgotten California castle sucks up $5M in taxpayer cash without opening to the public as planned: report

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/forgotten-california-castle-sucks-up-5m-in-taxpayer-cash-without-opening-to-the-public-as-planned-report/
- Published: 2026-11-05T21:45:26+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T22:40:09+00:00
- Original publisher: New York Post (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://nypost.com/2026/11/05/lifestyle/taxpayers-pay-350k-a-year-for-a-closed-death-valley-castle/
- Topics: Americas, World

## Key points

- Scotty’s Castle has been closed since a 2015 flash flood.
- Caring for its artefacts has cost nearly $5 million.
- The site is tentatively due to reopen in November 2028.

## Summary

Scotty’s Castle in Death Valley National Park has remained closed since a devastating 2015 flash flood, yet storing and caring for its collection has cost taxpayers nearly $5 million. The case highlights the expense of preserving a historic site while restoration and a return to public access are delayed.

The collection of more than 12,400 artefacts costs about $350,000 a year to store and maintain, with most allocated funds going towards rent for the storage facility. A 2021 fire, funding and staffing difficulties, and legal protections for historic features have slowed the work. Construction is expected to resume next year, and a full reopening is tentatively planned for November 2028; weekend restoration tours are available until 17 April.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.