The town is owned by the non-profit Amargosa Opera House Inc.[5] which runs the Opera House, Hotel, and cafe The community's location, 27 miles (43 km) east-southeast of Furnace Creek,[6] on the east side of Death Valley is south of Nevada's Amargosa Valley and near Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.

This includes areas for residences and the official federal sanction to use some government lands for traditional ceremonies.

The town was created in 1907 when the Tonopah and Tidewater Railroad was constructed through the Amargosa Valley and a spur from their main line was built to the Lila C. borax mine in the hills to the west.

From 1923 to 1925 the Pacific Coast Borax Company constructed buildings in the town, hiring architect Alexander Hamilton McCulloch to design a Spanish Colonial Revival whistle stop centered at the hotel, theater and office complex building, now known as the Amargosa Opera House and Hotel.

[10] The Death Valley post office opened in 1908 and transferred to Furnace Creek Ranch in 1961.

[12] Federally, Death Valley Junction is in California's 8th congressional district, represented by Democrat John Garamendi.