Inn at Furnace Creek Death Valley National Park

When you think of Death Valley, you might not think of a great four diamond resort in the desert. Thankfully the Furnace Creek Inn Death Valley is just that. This oasis in the middle of the desert offers a great place to put your feet up and escape the sun and heat.  Since 1927 the Furnace Creek Inn Death Valley has been a resting spot for travelers who are looking to enjoy the beauty of Death Valley but still enjoy a luxurious place to stay.

Inn  at Furnace Creek Death Valley National Park

In 2017 it was announced that “Furnace Creek,” as it’s been known by generations, will re-emerge as “The Oasis at Death Valley” featuring “The Inn at Death Valley” and “The Ranch at Death Valley,” respectively. The golf course will retain its historic name as “The Furnace Creek Golf Course.”

Xanterra Parks & Resorts will “restore, revitalize and create a renaissance” in all three areas that comprise The Oasis at Death Valley. Three distinct experiences exist at this oasis: a historic luxury Inn set into the side of a mountain range; a Ranch on the desert floor featuring accommodations, restaurants, a general store, a U.S. Post Office, horse stables, date groves, gardens and a large spring-fed pool, a historical museum and a gas station; and a USGA sanctioned golf course (the lowest one on earth).

Work has already begun at Furnace Creek and, over the course of 2017, the properties will undergo major improvements and enhancements in accommodations, public spaces and facilities, accessibility, landscaping, energy conservation and major upgrades to the golf course. During the construction, the 66-room Inn at Furnace Creek will close for the summer, while the 224-room Ranch will stay open. The website (www.oasisatdeathvalley.com) offers updates and information on the improvements taking place at the Resort, Ranch and golf course.

There are 66 rooms in the Furnace Creek Inn. We stayed in a king size room, and it was quite lovely. One thing to note is the building was built in 1927. Even with that being said we found the room to be quite lovely and perfect for our stay.

The renaissance of The Inn will add 11 two-room casitas surrounding both the spring-fed pool and lush oasis gardens, offering travelers sweeping views of Death Valley. Updated rooms and lobby; a new wellness center, complete with treatment rooms and a larger fitness area; the addition of cabanas and a poolside bar will further enhance the natural spring-fed pool area in this historic resort. The exterior will feature a terraced garden and lush landscaping.

The Inn’s famous dining room and bar will undergo a restoration complete with wood floors, new banquette seating and a turquoise ceiling – to represent the sky above Death Valley. The new dining room will also add an array of pergolas so travelers can take-in the stunning landscape surrounding the Resort.

A new group and event space for high-level retreats rarified team-building experiences and memorable weddings will be added just steps away from The Inn. Called the Mission Gardens, the spectacular environment will capitalize on the standing façade and open-air space that exists there and be artistically landscaped for social and business functions.

One of the things that impressed us the most about the Furnace Creek Inn Death Valley was the staff. From the moment we pulled up to the front of the hotel, we were greeted by so many friendly staff members.

Veso from Bulgaria was truly wonderful. He greeted us each time we pulled up and asked about our day. We talked about photography and how much fun he is having exploring the park with his wife. He was a shining example of the great service at the inn.

Our room had a lovely king size bed, fireplace, and full bathroom. I do wish we could have lit a fire in the fireplace and relaxed, but we didn't have time. The room opened up onto a walkway that led around the property to the pool.

The bathroom had nice shampoo, conditioner, and soap available along with a hair dryer. I really appreciated that the inn offered large containers attached to the wall of products to help reduce the amount of garbage from small shampoo and toiletry bottles.

There are great lounge chairs available so you can look out over the desert. There are also chairs near the amazing pool. This is a great place to watch the sun go down and relax as the stars come out.

The pool at the Furnace Creek Inn Death Valley is absolutely gorgeous. One thing to note is if you are visiting outside of summer check the temp with a toe before you dive in. We had heard that it was going to be warm but wanted to check before we jumped in. Thank goodness we did because it was not warm at all. I am sure in the summer it would feel amazing, but in January it was not happening.

A funny thing did happen on our way to the pool. We were walking along and all of a sudden something jumped over the stairs in front of us. Tammilee freaked out a bit and thought it was a cougar or bobcat.  It turned out to be a coyote pup who quickly ran away, but it sure got our hearts racing.

I was very glad to have a flashlight on my cell phone to light the rest of the way to the pool at night.

The hotel staff lit the fireplaces near the pool deck at night while we were there. The seating around the fireplaces is really comfy and perfect for relaxing.

Also check out National Parks in California for the full list of parks in California!

Additional updates include:

The Ranch at Death Valley

The Ranch at Death Valley, with its towering palm trees and true oasis atmosphere, will witness a redesign and evolution of the public space that dates to the 1950s. The vision is for a more user-friendly “town square” in Spanish Colonial Revival style to be more sensitive to the environment, reduce traffic flow and provide better access to restaurants and the general store, and complement the historic nature of The Inn.

And yes, there will still be the always-popular authentic Western Saloon with authentic swinging doors, just with a much needed and larger bar.

Guests and travelers visiting The Oasis will experience a completely new check-in area, family-friendly pedestrian zones, tranquil gardens and fountains fed by the natural springs, and respectful architectural touches (think hitching posts and troughs – which are still used by people with horses, which are still on property). The Oasis will be extremely environmentally sensitive and water neutral.

Work on The Ranch is expected to be completed in April 2018.

The Golf Course

The legendary and truly unique Furnace Creek Golf Course, built in phases starting in the 1920s and the lowest golf course in the world at 214 feet below sea level, has already received a major renovation, reclamation and environmentally- and golfer-friendly evolution mostly focused on reducing water consumption while at the same time enhancing the fun and challenging course with more natural “waste” bunkers and natural landscaping and “hazards.”  The course is expected to grow in and be ready for primetime in early spring 2018, but it is playable now. Purists can relax; the quirky 19th-hole drive-in for golf carts is still there serving refreshing drinks and a menu to whet the appetite after a day on the links.

The Oasis at Death Valley (formerly Furnace Creek Resort) is two hours west of Las Vegas by car and a four-hour drive from Los Angeles. For additional information, rates and to make a reservation, visit www.oasisatdeathvalley.com or call 800-236-7916.