Death Valley is certainly among the hottest places on the planet; it’s now gotten a little cooler. An old-style Ice Cream Parlor has opened up at The Oasis, and this marks part of a nearly six-year-long renovation that cost $150 million, covering two hotels: the Inn, which has an AAA Four Diamond rating, and the Ranch, which is a family-style establishment. Both of these are located in Death Valley.
The Ranch offers 80 new standalone, bungalow-style cottages, a few yards from the mission style town square which itself has some of the finest new retail shops, a restaurant, and a restored saloon. This was originally a working ranch built in the ‘30s, and then in the ‘50s most of its structures were rebuilt. It has 275 rooms in total, within the low-slung buildings, each with a maximum of two stories. These buildings are arranged next to expansive lawns, and many of the rooms have patios (or balconies, based on the floor) adjoining them.
The Ice Cream Parlor located at the Ranch used to be known as Furnace Creek, and comprises a sweet, nostalgic addition where the Oasis is concerned. They serve a variety of shakes such as sundaes, soda floats, banana splits, Badwater Caramel and creamsicle, peanut butter cup, and 20 varying types of ice cream such as brownie extreme huckleberry birthday cake, and date. The grill has lunch options like grilled cheese, burgers, chili and hot dogs.
Next door to the 1849 restaurant which serves buffets for the three mealtimes, is an updated version of the Western-style bar, named The Last Kind Words Saloon. It has high ceilings making for a spacious ambience, and generous fine-dining options like flat iron steaks and rib eye, prime rib, filet mignon, and baby back ribs. This bar is a welcome addition to thirsty and hungry travelers, such as ones at the end of their journey covering the National Park.
The resort, meanwhile, comprises a winter sport constructed originally in the late ‘20s by the Pacific Borax Company, and was a preferred getaway for old-time celebs like Ronald Reagan and Clark Gable. It’s also where George Lucas filmed many of the scenes that are in the original Star Wars. The Borax museum is the oldest structure standing in Death Valley, among those sitting on Ranch property that is.
As for Inn, it was originally constructed in 1927, and is currently a four-diamond establishment, so you know it’s high-end. It overlooks the Ranch, and underwent major restoration before reopening in 2018. The property is privately owned, and has 66 updated rooms, a renovated fine-dining restaurant-cum- cocktail-lounge, a Tranquility Spa, and verandas affording views of the Panamint Mountains, and of course, of Death Valley. You also get lavish gardens to walk around in, plus a spring-fed pool which borders a pool café as well as multiple cabanas.
22 private casitas of the one-bedroom variety were constructed in Oasis Gardens, just walking distance away from the pool. Each is accompanied by a golf cart, and room options with either two queen or one king bed. Additionally, each casita contains a living room that has a sleeper sofa, and a wet bar. The main building too has renovated suites.
The Inn Dining Room carries extra seating areas, such as outdoor options for instance, and a pool café that features wraps, sandwiches, sides, salads, and assorted beverages. While dining here, you should definitely try out the Death Valley Date Cake, which has orange zested dates, caramel sauce, and candied pecans, drowned in light cardamom cream. If you’re worried about shedding those calories, there’s always the option of hiking to Zabriskie Point in the morning.
Right across from the stone inn they have an event venue called the Mission Gardens, which has a courtyard that stands open to the sky as well as the surrounding mountains. Mission Gardens is enclosed by whitewashed adobe walls featuring details that are crafted from stones brought from the Mojave Desert. Improvements are still being made.
Water is very precious in desert areas, which is why The Oasis focuses heavily on sustainability. Even small amounts of water that go into the spring-fed pools are managed carefully. The spring water has no chlorine in it, and after flowing through the pools are used for a number of non-potable functions such as irrigation and landscaping. If there’s any extra bit left, it is released so as to replenish the aquifer that’s under the valley floor. On the property is a 1MW solar PV system which comes up with a third of the complete energy needs of The Ranch, the Inn, the golf courses, housing, and employee offices. This is a system designed to stand in the face of the harsh conditions of the region, and can and does produce over two million kWh of clean renewable energy each year.
