Nestled within the extremes of Death Valley, California, is Furnace Creek Resort, an oasis for the traveler seeking to explore the famous national park. Furnace Creek Resort comprises the 66-room historic Inn at Furnace Creek and the family friendly 224-room Ranch at Furnace Creek.
The inn, a AAA Four Diamond-rated property, offers upscale amenities such as fine dining, gift shop, tennis courts and a spring-fed pool. The more casual ranch is located near the resort's 18-hole golf course, the world's lowest course at 214 feet below sea level. Located at the ranch are several restaurants, a saloon, retail outlets and a Borax Museum.
The Highest Temperature Ever Recorded in Death Valley
Interestingly enough, the highest temperature ever recorded in Death Valley was near the resort, which is one of the few places in the 3.3-million acre park with manmade structures. That highest temperature of 134 degrees Fahrenheit was recorded in the summer of 1913, and is the second highest temperature ever recorded on Earth.
Although the highest temperature ever recorded on this planet was documented in Libya in the 1920s, Death Valley most often is the worldwide daily record-high-temperature holder each summer. Temperatures often exceed 115 degrees Fahrenheit during June, July and August. By comparison temperatures in Death Valley average 65 degrees in December and January, one of the nicest times to visit the resort. While the inn itself is only open from mid-October to mid-May, the ranch, its sister property, is open throughout the year.
Other Extremes in Death Valley
Death Valley’s lowest point is at Badwater Basin. Within the 200-square-mile salt flat devoid of plants and animals to survive is a point 282 feet below sea level. By contrast at the Badwater viewpoint, one can see the Panamint Mountain Range with peaks of more than 11,000 feet above sea level. Both points are within easy driving distance of the resort.
Death Valley is the driest place in the United States with an average annual rainfall of less than 2 inches. Some years there is no rain at all. The four mountain ranges between the park and the Pacific Ocean typically keep the 110-mile valley bone dry.
Pink Jeep Tours Provide Guided Access to Death Valley
For those who prefer a guided tour, Pink Jeep Tours, offered in partnership with the resort, provides guided access. A visit to Badwater Basin, for example, can be combined with a drive to the famous Aguereberry Point. The overlook at 6,433 feet above sea level provides a spectacular vantage point to survey the magnificent desolation of the park. Those on the tour hear about the history of the point, which was named for a hermit miner who found the once productive Eureka Mine nearby.
Among the park's 61 geologic formations are several that shouldn't be missed. They include
- Ubehebe Crater, a massive steam-explosion crater 600 feet deep
- Devil’s Golf Course, an ever-changing dry lake of crystalline salt formations
- Artist’s Palette, burgundy, teal and ochre colored rock formations
- Dante’s View, an awe-inspiring perspective on the mountains and salt flats of the valley at 5,000 feet above sea level
- Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, rolling Sahara Desert type sand dunes rising up to 100 feet
For More Information
For more information or to make reservations at Furnace Creek Resort, visit the resort website or call toll free 1-800-236-7916 or 1-303-297-2757.
Join the Conversation