Walter Scott's fascination with the West began when he was a young man. First a cowhand, then waterboy for a survey party on the California-Nevada border, and later, Scotty had a 12-year stint as a rodeo rider for the Buffalo Bill Wild West Show.

Con man and showman, Death Valley Scotty's charmed wealthy Chicagoans, Albert and Bessie Johnson. He created mythical mines to sell to a gullible public. In between promoting his enterprises, he retreated to Death Valley and burnished his growing reputation.