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Death Valley: Zabriskie Point area to shut temporarily for repairs

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One of the most famous views in Death Valley National Park will be off-limits this fall and winter. Access to Zabriskie Point, where visitors go to see sweeping views of the park’s famous Badlands, will be closed Oct. 1 for a major rehabilitation project, a park release Monday said.

The statement says walls at the vista point built in the 1920s have been deteriorating and need to be repaired. Workers will be brought in to fix support walls that have become unstable and “pose a danger to public safety.” The area is expected to reopen March 31.

The structure stands about a hundred yards up a hill from the parking lot along California 190, one of the main roads in the park. It was built by the Pacific Coast Borax Co. as a place cars could stop to take in a wide-angle view of the desert landscape, particularly the dominant rock spire named the Manley Beacon.

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As for the name of the point, the company, known for its famous 20-mule teams that transported borax from desert mines, named it after its general manager Christian Zabriskie.

Of course, it’s not the only place in the park to get great views of the mountains and rock faces. Golden Canyon, Artist’s Drive and Dante’s View will be open as well as Eureka and Mesquite Flat sand dunes.

Info: Death Valley National Park

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