By JESSICA HILL

DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) — Scotty’s Castle, a 1920s vacation home for a millionaire couple and the domain of a famous con man, was a top attraction in Death Valley National Park before it closed from a flash flood. After 10 years of repairs, the landmark is offering limited tours.

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The castle nestled into a desert hillside tells the perfect Wild West story of a cunning cowboy, a search for gold, a shootout with bandits and friendship. It is a great tale — even if some of it was made up.

“The story of how it came to be in this extremely unlikely place is what makes it so special,” said Abby Wines, acting deputy superintendent of Death Valley National Park.

The National Park Service opened up the grounds for limited flood-recovery tours in the coming months, and its full reopening is eyed for a few years from now.

Around 1.4 million people visit the park located in California and Nevada every year. It is well known as the hottest place in North America and as the driest and lowest place in the continent at 282 feet below sea level.

Gold, bandits and unlikely friends

In its heyday, the castle was “the stage for a massive practical joke on all of America,” Wines said.

Chandeliers and sunlight illuminate a room at Scotty’s Castle, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Death Valley National Park, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Walter Scott, a con man nicknamed “Death Valley Scotty” and a former rider for the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show, took up gold prospecting, convincing people to invest in a fictional gold mine in Death Valley, where he thought none of his investors would dare to visit.

He struck the mother lode when he met Albert Johnson, who made his money in mines and health insurance. He invested in the mine but traveled to Death Valley to see where his money was going. Scott tried to scare the man off by staging a gunfight with bandits.

Johnson realized it was a scam, but he didn’t mind. He found the dry desert air good for his health, and he enjoyed the adventure, Wines said. He brought his wife, Bessie Johnson, and they became friends with Scott.

Over nine years, they built a vacation home they called Death Valley Ranch. But Scott lived on the grounds until he died, and everyone referred to it as Scotty’s Castle. He is buried on top of a hill overlooking the property.

Clouds drift over Scotty’s Castle, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Death Valley National Park, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Inspired by the sandstone buildings and red tile roofs of Stanford University, where Bessie Johnson went to school, the castle is decorated with stucco walls, painted tiles and elaborate woodwork. A music room with a player pipe organ, arched ceilings and a stained-glass window served as a space for entertaining guests. Outside, a weather vane of Scott is perched on the roof, and a clock tower overlooks the valley. An incomplete pool shows the point in history when Johnson’s business failed and he couldn’t afford to restart construction.

Visitors stopped by the castle to see Scott and his famed gold mine when Death Valley became a national monument in 1933. Continuing his charade, he would tell visitors he built “his” castle on top of the mine. Servants went into tunnels beneath the castle and banged on pots and pans, creating the illusion of a working mine, Wines said. The Johnsons found the story entertaining.

A picture of Albert Johnson is on display in a window at Scotty’s Castle, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Death Valley National Park, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Long road to restoration

When it was open, Scotty’s Castle drew 100,000 visitors every year. Guides dressed in period costumes gave tours of the castle, still with its original furnishings.

Interest in the castle remains high; the $35 flood recovery tours scheduled through March are already sold out. The proceeds will go toward completing the restoration, which will cost around $90 million.

Sunlight streams into a building at Scotty’s Castle, Friday, Jan. 23, 2026, in Death Valley National Park, Calif. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Repairs, which involved a lot of utility work, have taken longer than expected because of multiple setbacks, including a fire in 2021 and historic rainfall in recent years.

“I think what most people connect to when they come out here is the story of the friendship between the rich couple, Albert and Bessie Johnson, and Death Valley Scotty, the man who started the relationship by convincing them to give him money for a gold mine that never existed,” Wines said.

By JESSICA DAMIANO

Shoveling in single-digit temperatures after the colossal winter storm this weekend, I dumped mounds of snow onto my garden beds, knowing it would protect my trees, shrubs and dormant perennials.

When the ground repeatedly freezes and thaws, as it does over winter in cold climates, that can squeeze roots, seeds, bulbs, tubers and rhizomes right out of the earth. Once exposed, they can be killed off by cold, drying winds.

But snow cover provides a heavy blanket of winter mulch that insulates the soil, prevents heat from escaping and keeps soil temperatures from seesawing. And as it melts, snow will not only water your garden but fertilize it with plant-boosting nitrogen absorbed from the air on its way to earth.

It’s a perfect display of nature taking care of itself.

Branches might not fare as well

On the downside, the same heavy blanket that keeps plants warmly tucked in can spell disaster for evergreen trees like arborvitae and Leyland cypress. When wet snow accumulates on trees, its weight can bend, buckle or snap branches. And if you don’t remove it, it can permanently disfigure them.

We can help by gently knocking snow off branches with a long-handled broom. Under normal circumstances, I do this after the storm ends. But during extended snowfalls, I go out during the storm, as well, to keep on top of the accumulation. Trees are expensive, so I’d rather brave the elements than have to replace them.

When water or accumulated snow freezes into ice, however, it’s best to leave the branches be. Attempts to crack or knock ice off plants risk further damaging bark and other delicate plant parts. All we can do is allow it to melt naturally and hope for the best.

Use garden-friendly salt

After removing snow from walkways and driveways, it’s good practice to apply rock salt to prevent ice from forming. But choosing a product can be confusing.

Magnesium chloride is the best choice, as it dissolves quickly to coat and melt ice, works in temperatures as cold as 10 degrees below zero Fahrenheit and is less likely to burn pets’ paws. It’s also the safest for your plants, which become exposed to the product via wind, soil runoff, melting snow and splashing slush, as well as deliberate snow dumping.

One drawback, however, is that magnesium chloride is also the most expensive of the commonly available ice-melt products. If your coverage area is so large that using it exclusively becomes too expensive, consider using it in areas adjacent to plants and where pets will be exposed. Then, opt for my second choice, calcium chloride, in less-trafficked areas and those away from lawns and gardens.

You’ll often see calcium chloride marketed as pet- and plant-safe, but it still can damage plants and irritate pets’ (and your own) paws. Wear gloves when handling it. If you must use it near plants, apply sparingly. And rinse pets’ paws after exposure.

As a gardener, you might recognize the chemical name of another type of rock salt, potassium chloride. Although it’s also a component of balanced fertilizers (the K in N-P-K ratios), the amounts needed to melt ice can actually harm or kill plants, so avoid using it as a deicer.

Sodium chloride is the cheapest of the bunch, but the worst choice for plants, pets and the environment. It can corrode cars, crack concrete, and poison wildlife, plants and trees.

When applying any ice-melt product, always use the least amount necessary, as they all have some potential to damage masonry. Applying a waterproofing sealant to driveways and walkways during warmer weather will help protect against ice-related cracks for several years.

Jessica Damiano writes weekly gardening columns for the AP and publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. You can sign up here for weekly gardening tips and advice.

For more AP gardening stories, go to https://apnews.com/hub/gardening.

Super Bowl Sunday is almost here! And whether you’re planning to stay glued to each play of the Big Game, tune in for the halftime show and big-budget, best-in-advertising commercials, or just enjoy gathering with friends and family — you’ll need to stay fed during the upcoming extravaganza at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

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To help, we’ve asked some of our favorite Bay Area chefs and culinary leaders to share their Super Bowl recipes. Violet Witchel, a San Francisco-based culinary influencer known as Dense Bean Salad Girl, offered up her recipe for Pepperoncini Shallot Deviled Eggs. Oakland’s Tanya Holland shared her recipe for Dominican Pork Guisado — plus some wine pairing tips — perfect for honoring the Caribbean background of this year’s halftime performer, Puerto Rican megastar Bad Bunny.

And while we couldn’t get California-rooted Julia Child to share a Super Bowl recipe (she died in 2004), we tracked down the next-best thing we could: the recipe for a homey vegetarian recipe for Black Bean Chili from Cafe Beaujolais, via chef Julian Lopez. It’s said Child once ordered — and subsequently, made famous — the dish when she visited the Mendocino restaurant in the 1980s. And what’s a more satisfying game day meal than a hearty bowl of chili?

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Recipes for your Super Bowl LX celebration:

Tanya Holland’s Dominican Pork Guisado
Violet Witchel’s Pepperoncini Shallot Deviled Eggs
Julia Child’s fave black bean chili from Mendocino’s Cafe Beaujolais

If you’re house hunting, last weekend’s record-breaking snowfall is a valid reason to put your search on ice. But winter weather doesn’t faze Desirae Allen, a real estate broker with Sound Realty in Valdez, Alaska. In a city that gets more than 300 inches of snow in a season, that’s just business as usual.

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“I’ve got a showing that all of a sudden came unexpectedly, and I haven’t got a guy over there to plow the driveway, ” she says. “I’ve got to tell the buyers, you know, ‘Grab your boots or grab your snowshoes — we’re going to wade our way in.’”

Nationally, winter is the sleepiest season for the housing market, but some home buyers still get it done. About 13,000 houses are sold every day from December through February, reports the National Association of Realtors.

If you’re ready to buy a house — and you made it through the storm with heat and power — why not start looking now? Here’s how to turn the winter off-season into your advantage.

Pay attention to price drops

If you need a reason to crawl out of hibernation, mortgage rates are dangling a rare opportunity. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate hit 5.97% in the week ending Jan. 22. That’s a full percentage point lower than the average rate in January 2025, and nearly the lowest we’ve seen in three years.

If you don’t have one yet, now’s a good time to shop around for a mortgage preapproval. Get a quote from at least three different lenders to make sure you’re getting the best deal. A preapproval typically locks in your mortgage rate for 30, 60 or 90 days. Try to snag one on the longer side so you’re covered through spring.

When comparing offers, ask if your lender has a “float down” option. This allows you to swap your quoted rate for a lower one if rates keep dropping after your preapproval.

Another way to save: Average prices tend to drop in the winter months. Homes listed from December-February are priced 16% lower than those listed in June, reports the NAR. On top of that, motivated sellers are more willing to negotiate on price — especially if their home has been sitting on the market since summer or fall.

Expect slimmer selection

Winter bargains come with tradeoffs. Inventory is thinner this time of year, limiting buyers’ options. Monica Haynes, director of the Bureau of Business and Economic Research at the University of Minnesota Duluth, says flexibility can help buyers make that dynamic work in their favor.

“If you’re someone who is willing to buy a fixer-upper, or someone who’s willing to overlook some maybe less desirable things, then you can probably get a better deal in the winter,” she says.

In many areas, more listings start popping up in February, but every market has its own rhythm. A local buyer’s agent can help you understand what’s typical in your neighborhood.

Know what a winter inspection can’t spot

When you get to the walk-through phase, pay extra attention to how the house feels in winter weather. Are the windows drafty? How’s the natural light?

Ask the sellers for photos of the property in milder weather. Deep snow can mask major issues, like siding damage, roof issues or problems with the septic system.

Allen, speaking from experience in Alaska, has seen just how weird that reveal can get.

“Is there a dead car out there in the woods that I’m going to be surprised by, come summertime?” she says. “So do a little bit more homework, lean on your home inspection and just really slow down and do your due diligence.”

Stay flexible on timing

Once you’re clear to close, build some wiggle room into your timeline to save money (and stress).

Moving companies often charge less for a winter move, thanks to lower demand in the off-season. However, inclement weather can erase those savings pretty quickly if it leads to longer routes, heavier fuel usage or more labor hours — especially for long-distance moves.

Winter’s slow season can mean more flexible contractor schedules — and potential savings — on cosmetic work like painting or minor remodeling, often at the top of new homeowners’ to-do lists. But with seasonal demand, it might be harder to book plumbers, HVAC techs and electricians.

“Come winter, they are pretty backed up with no heat calls, frozen pipes — you know, more the 9-1-1 things — where they’re using their summers for projects,” Allen says.

Slow down and be intentional

Winter has a way of slowing everything down. While spring brings more listings, it also brings more competition and pressure to move fast.

This time of year, homes tend to attract fewer offers — about two per listing in December 2025, according to the NAR. Compared to peak homebuying season, homes stay on the market a median 20 days longer in the winter, giving buyers more breathing room and negotiating power.

With fewer transactions happening overall, you may get more face time and attention from everyone involved, from your buyer’s agent to the lender to the title company. Instead of rushing, winter gives you space to ask questions and move forward with intention.

When you’re making a decision as big as buying a home, taking your time is a good thing. A slower winter market gives you time to build confidence and figure out each step in the homebuying process. That way, you’re ready whenever the right home comes along — now or in the spring.

Abby Badach Doyle writes for NerdWallet. Email: abadachdoyle@nerdwallet.com.

The article How to Buy a House in the Winter (Yes, It’s Possible) originally appeared on NerdWallet.