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The tiny almost-ghost town of Death Valley Junction, also known as Amargosa, has a remarkable story that makes it worth a detour. It sits in the California desert south of Death Valley National Park and only five miles from the Nevada border.
Introduction to Death Valley Junction
The town was founded in 1907 with the arrival of the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad. It was originally owned by Robert Tubb, who operated a saloon, store, and brothel. From 1923 to 1925, the Pacific Coast Borax Company constructed buildings in the town, including a Spanish Colonial Revival hotel, theatre, and office complex designed by architect Alexander Hamilton McCulloch. The population reached 350, but Death Valley Junction was in serious decline only a few decades later.
Today, the town is owned by Amargosa Opera House Inc., which runs the opera house, hotel, and a restaurant. Otherwise, everything else is in a serious state of disrepair.
Keep in mind it’s very important to fill up your gas tank before visiting Death Valley Junction. There are no gas stations for several miles around.
Amargosa Opera House
The most fascinating landmark in Death Valley Junction is the Amargosa Opera House. It’s well worth taking a tour to see it for yourself and learn more about its story. They run daily at 9am and 6pm and cost US$15 for adults and US$5 for kids (as of February 2025).
In 1967, dancer and actress Marta Becket (1924-2017) of New York had a flat tire while passing through the town on the way to a function. While wandering away from the service station, she noticed something peculiar – a theatre. With her career in New York in decline, she talked her husband into renting the theatre and moving to Death Valley Junction permanently.
Becket began to make repairs and would often give performances to an empty theatre. She decided to paint murals of audience members on the walls and would often perform only for them.
Everything changed when National Geographic and Life magazines discovered her and wrote profiles about her. She then began receiving visitors from around the world who came all the way to the middle of nowhere to see her perform. Celebrities such as Ray Bradbury (1920-2012) and Red Skelton (1913-1997) were among her admirers.
Becket was able to prolong her career and gave her last performance on February 12, 2012. She passed away on January 30, 2017, at the age of 92. The theatre continues to have performances sporadically throughout the year in honor of Becket’s legacy. Check the official website for more details.
Amargosa Hotel
It’s also worth stopping into the adjoining Amargosa Hotel. More murals painted by Becket are in the hotel. A 16th century Spanish garden is depicted in the dining room and more scenes are in the lobby.
Many of the guest rooms have been painted as well, including Room 22, which was dedicated to Red Skelton. He stayed there four times. We were also able to watch a short film about Becket’s life.
