Southwest Vacation Feb23 - Death Valley NP
Stovepipe Wells
|
|
Stovepipe Wells is about 25 miles northwest from Furnace Creek. I had tried to make reservations at the two hotels in Furnance Creek but they were booked. I was able to get in at Stovepipe Wells. Stovepipe Wells was fine and considerably less expensive than the Furnace Creek places, so I was happy we ended up staying there.
Stovepipe Wells had a Saloon (pictured) and Restaurant (the building to the right of the saloon). After hiking and sightseeing all day, we had a cool beer at the Saloon, then went into the restaurant. Unfortunately, the place was jammed. It was obvious the place was simply understaffed and couldn't handle the load. We ended up just giving up and buying some food in the General Store across the street for our dinner. I know what you're thinking. Why not order some food at the Saloon? There was only a single bartender working the Saloon and while we were there he annouced he wasn't accepting food orders.
|
| |
 |
|
|
Looking across Hwy 190 at the General Store.
The next morning I was apprehensive about what breakfast would be like in the restaurant but it was night and day. We arrived when it opened so it wasn't crowded. They had a breakfast buffett and it was excellent. Scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, pancakes, fruit. cerial, juice, coffee, as much as you wanted. And the price was only $10 which is low for anyplace in the USA. In Las Vegas it is very low. In Death Valley it is unbelivably low. So the retaurant totally redeemed itself!
|
| |
 |
|
| The Stovepipe Wells complex from the General Store. |
| |
 |
|
|
Stovepipe Wells also has an airstrip.
|
| |
 |
|
| Looking at the Stovepipe Wells complex from the airstrip. |
| |
 |
|
| There's even an airplane! You could fly here, and just walk to the Stovepipe Wells complex. But how would you get around the vast Death Valley. And don't do it in the summer! |
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
 |
|
|
A pool!
|
| |
 |
|
| Stovepipe Wells has a fuel pump. So does Furnace Creek, but Stovepipe Well's is less expensive. Both are higher than outside the park, but you are happy to pay it. Death Valley is not the place to run out of gas. In the summer, you would be in a life-threatening situation. |
| |
 |
|
|
A map of Death Valley. Towing/tire service is a long ways away. I was terrified of having a flat tire in Death Valley. Did you know rental cars do not have a spare tire? I checked our mini-SUV and sure enough it did not have a spare. I should also add that there is absolutely no cell service in Death Valley. So if you have a flat in a rental car, you can't put on the spare yourself, and you can't call anybody. I guess all you can do is wait for someone to stop and help you.
My iPhone -- and most smart phones -- has an Emergency SOS feature which allows you to quickly call the emergency services in whatever country you’re in and let one or more chosen contacts know that you need help. But I didn't know how to use it or have it set up. Probably something I should have gotten smart on beforehand.
|
| |
 |
|
|
Death Valley didn't really become accessible until a toll road was built to it in 1925. The toll road enabled the first resort on the Stovepipe Wells site, which consisted of 20 tent cabins supplemented by some buildings.
Death Valley National Monument was created in 1933. A year later the toll road was purchased by the State of California. Highway 190 closely follows the old toll road.
|
| |
 |
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|