Forgotten California castle sucks up $5M in taxpayer cash without opening to the public as planned: report

A crumbling California castle has cost American taxpayers millions of dollars, and it isn’t even open.Scotty’s Castle, a historic villa in Death Valley National Park has been closed to the public since October 2015, but the sprawling estate costs a whopping $350,000 each year to store and maintain its collection of over 12,400 artifacts, according to a new analysis from SFGATE.The tourist destination closed its doors after a 2015 flash flood that devastated the property, which was followed by a 2021 fire in an of the estate’s outbuildings that further delayed its reopening.

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By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.Never miss a story Over the past few years, maintenance of the castle’s massive collection of artifacts, which includes historic furnishings, have cost a total of nearly $5 million.

But officials say the outrageous cost is necessary.“It’s not a case of overestimating what it costs to care for this collection — it really does cost that much to do the work to the standard we need to — but more than anything, I would like to see the collection back where it belongs as soon as possible,” Alison Leard, the founder and director of Pacific Coast Conservation, which manages the collection of artifacts, told SFGATE.

California Post News: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedInCalifornia Post Sports Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, XCalifornia Post Opinion California Post Newsletters: Sign up here!California Post App: Download here!Home delivery: Sign up here!Page Six Hollywood: Sign up here!“I look forward to the day when we can send it home.”The majority of the $5 million allocated to Pacific Coast Conservation has gone toward toward paying rent for the facility where the collection is stored, with a smaller amount set aside for costs ...