A historic desert oasis where a spring-fed pool, a date palm grove, and a classic Western saloon provide refuge on the floor of Death Valley.
The Ranch at Death Valley, formerly known as the Furnace Creek Ranch, has welcomed travelers to the floor of the Mojave Desert since 1933. Positioned on private land within the national park, the 275-room property recently underwent a comprehensive multi-million-dollar renovation that reimagined its central hub as a Spanish Colonial Revival town square. Towering date palms, planted decades ago, shade the manicured lawns and walkways, creating a stark contrast to the surrounding salt flats and rugged desert canyons. The architecture blends Mission-style elements with mid-century design, featuring low-slung one- and two-story lodging wings that open directly onto patios or private balconies overlooking the grounds. The ranch sits on land historically inhabited by the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, who have called this spring-fed oasis home for thousands of years.
Water is the defining element of the property, sourced from natural underground springs that feed the resort's legendary swimming pool. Kept at a constant, mineral-rich 87 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, the pool features classic stonework and is flanked by private cabanas and a pool bar. Just beyond the lawns lies the Furnace Creek Golf Course, an 18-hole championship course that holds the distinction of being the lowest-elevation grass golf course in the world, sitting at 214 feet below sea level. For a window into the valley's industrial past, guests can wander over to the Borax Museum, housed in the oldest surviving structure in Death Valley, which dates back to 1883. The outdoor exhibits display historic steam locomotives, stagecoaches, and massive wooden wagons once hauled by the famous 20-mule teams.
The social heart of the ranch after sunset is the Last Kind Words Saloon, a meticulously designed venue reminiscent of an old-school Western film set. Inside, the walls are adorned with antique firearms, taxidermy, and vintage movie posters, creating an atmospheric backdrop for dining on cowboy steaks, smoked ribs, and whiskey cocktails. Next door, a retro-styled ice cream parlor serves classic sundaes and locally inspired date ice cream, a refreshing antidote to the daytime heat. Because the resort is located within a designated international dark sky park, light pollution is kept to a minimum. As night falls, the ranch's great lawn becomes a prime viewing platform where the stars of the Milky Way appear remarkably sharp against the ink-black desert sky.
Order a local draft beer or a whiskey cocktail to-go from the Last Kind Words Saloon, then walk out to the far edge of the resort's great lawn. Because the ranch is located in a designated gold-tier Dark Sky Park, the stargazing here is exceptional, especially on moonless autumn and winter nights when the core of the Milky Way is highly visible.
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