I had a coffee in Amargosa Cafe in Death Valley Junction in November 2016
and it was a going concern with a tour bus just having stopped. It was
under new ownership.

http://pvtimes.com/news/new-amargosa-cafe-readying-reopening.html

On Sat, Feb 4, 2017 at 11:22 AM, David McNeely <davmcneely40@gmail.com>
wrote:

> The buildings at Death Valley Junction were in terrible repair and the
> restaurant was not open when we were there in early January.  In fact, the
> restaurant appeared not to have been open for some time, no furniture.
>
> If you insist on campgrounds with showers, Panamint Springs, a private
> resort at the western entrance (but inside) to the park, has them.  I don't
> know the price there.
>
> Traveling from the west or south, as the person who posted the original
> query suggested he would, one does not go through Pahrump.  One would go
> through Pahrump traveling from Death Valley to Las Vegas.
>
> Another comment about Mojave National Monument:  A five year old would be
> fascinated by the jail at Kelso.  I don't know why I mentioned I-10 in
> conjunction with Mojave National Monument.  Of course, I should have said
> I-15.  I-10 is pretty far south of there. My brain is about as old as the
> rest of me.
>
> mcneely
>
> On Sat, Feb 4, 2017 at 10:59 AM, bernie <1234bjs@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Valley of Fire is around 50 miles from Las Vegas and a nice State Park.
>> No recommendations of places to stay in Las Vegas.
>> In the old days Circus Circus RV Park would give you three free nights.
>> That was until the bean counters took over. There are some of those places
>> that try to sell you a RV Membership and will give you two nights free.
>> Well almost free! You have to agree to go to a 90 minute presentation
>> where
>> you get a hard sell and at the end, if you have not bought, a gold chain
>> wearing closer comes in for the kill! So not exactly free and not
>> recommended.
>> We sat through one on a trip across US over 35 years ago and never again.
>>
>> You drive through Pahrump on way to Death Valley. The only thing I stop
>> for
>> in Pahrump are supplies, gas and excellent Thai food at My Thai
>> restaurant.
>> A mom and pop establishment where you get great food at good prices. It's
>> in a tiny strip mall near a Shell gas station and if you didn't know it
>> was
>> great food you probably wouldn't stop. Top up with gas as it only gets
>> more
>> expensive in Death Valley.
>> As you continue the drive west toward Death Valley
>> you will arrive at Death Valley Junction. Stop and walk around the remains
>> of this little bit of history.
>>
>> From Wikipedia
>>
>> In 1914, the Death Valley Railroad
>> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_Valley_Railroad> started operating
>> between Ryan, California <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryan,_California>
>> and Death Valley Junction. It carried borax
>> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borax> until 1928, when operations ceased.
>> The name of the town was changed to *Death Valley Junction* from
>> *Amargosa*
>> (*bitter* in Spanish <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_language>,
>> most
>> likely meaning "bitter water", as the Spanish words *agua* and *amargosa*
>> are feminine). From 1923 to 1925 the Pacific Coast Borax Company
>> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_Coast_Borax_Company> constructed
>> buildings in the town, hiring architect Alexander Hamilton McCulloch
>> <https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alexander_Hamilt
>> on_McCulloch&action=edit&redlink=1>
>> to design a Spanish Colonial Revival
>> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spanish_Colonial_Revival_architecture>
>> whistle
>> stop <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Request_stop> centered at the hotel,
>> theater and office complex building, now known as the Amargosa Opera House
>> and Hotel <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amargosa_Opera_House_and_Hotel>.
>>
>> The town began to decline in the mid-20th century. However, in 1967 dancer
>> and actress Marta Becket happened to visit due to an automobile repair.[5]
>> She became enamored with the theater, and with help from benefactors, she
>> leased, then purchased, the hotel and theater complex. The Amargosa is now
>> owned by a non-profit organization.[*citation needed*
>> <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed>]
>>
>>
>> Marta gave performances at the Opera House for many years.
>>
>> There is a lot of rich history about the hotel, the Borax mine, Zane
>> Grey's
>> visit that led to him writing a magazine article, which in turn prompted
>> the Pacific Coast Borax Mining Company to build the Amargosa Hotel which
>> provided the miners and their families with better living conditions.
>>
>> Zane Grey was appalled at the conditions of the workers and their families
>> on this first visit through the area and he did not stop writing articles
>> until conditions improved.
>>
>> Marta still resides at Death Valley Junction but her health has suffered
>> and she requires care.
>>
>> A restaurant there has been reopened and it's worth stopping for a iced
>> tea
>> or sandwich.
>> It sounds simplistic but many people forget to up their water intake in
>> the
>> desert environment so drink up.
>> I see people going for a hike with no or very little water. What are they
>> thinking?
>>
>> If you have the time you could stay a night or
>> two at Tecopa Hot Springs which is about 6 miles from Shoshone and about
>> 35
>> miles from
>> Pahrump. If going there from Pahrump it's a different highway. This is not
>> far from another entrance to Death Valley on other side of Shoshone.  It's
>> a funky area with reasonable priced camping that allow access to nice hot
>> springs included in camping fee. Make sure
>> you have drinking water as you can't drink the water there. Hot springs
>> are
>> segregated by sex
>> and no bathing suits allowed as they say bathing suits can affect the
>> water. The waters are reportedly second only to Baden Baden, Germany in
>> terms of there healing quality.
>> Wifi access at the community center right in the campground area. You can
>> access 24 hours a day if close to the community center. Otherwise
>> when community center is open in morning take your coffee and computer
>> inside.
>>
>> I don't believe any of the campgrounds in Death Valley have showers,
>> however, for 5 dollars you can buy a pool pass at Furnace Creek, and
>> Stovepipe Wells. This gives you access for 24 hours.
>>
>> My last stay in Texas Springs campground at Furnace Creek, a generator
>> free
>> campground by the way, I noticed what I hope is not going to be a trend
>> from overseas campers.
>> It appears a few budget travel books geared to lowest common denominator
>> are recommending dealing with the parks by arriving late, leaving
>> early and not paying.
>> The parks folks are not amused and gladly ticket anyone they identify in
>> this activity.
>> One night I was there we could have heard a pin drop at 9PM as everyone
>> was
>> in bed to be up early the next day.
>> At midnight a rent camper van arrives with music very loud. Nothing like
>> announcing your arrival.
>> They don't take a vacant campsite, of which there were many, but park next
>> to washrooms at the back. They don't pay or have any intention of paying.
>> However beside have no scruples they don't appear to be very bright as
>> they
>> sleep in
>> to 10:30am. Talking about rubbing it in to the camp host as he makes his
>> rounds to check payment slips! The host was in communication with the
>> Ranger and ticketed and had to visit Visitor Center deal with behavior.
>> They were from Europe and it's a strange way to be guests in a country.
>>
>>
>> Bernie
>> Vancouver
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> >
>>
>
>