The Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs offers a respite from all the noise and crowd. It is an oasis comprising of a 680-acre park that features wildlife, lakes, greenery, and an amazing view of the Sheep Range and the Spring Mountains.
Over 200,000 locals and tourists visit the park yearly to relax, go on picnics, take beautiful photos of animals, and many more. Little do people know that the park has been a work in progress for many years before it became the park they enjoy today.
A Work in Progress for Many Years
The history of the Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs dates back to the prehistoric era. People discovered fossils of animals belonging to the Pleistocene fauna such as mammoths in the area. Human inhabitation, on the other hand, only happened approximately 11,000 years ago. The first inhabitants were a nomadic Indian tribe called “Tudini”. They were succeeded by a native Indian American group called “Paiute”.
In the 1900s, a man named John Herbert Nay purchased 10 acres of land. He cultivated his property but sold it in 1929 eventually. By 1941, the property has a new owner by the name of Prosper Jacob Goumond. He transformed the property into a working ranch, which became a guest ranch eventually. It accommodated several visitors who even volunteered to do daily ranch chores sometimes. The ranch has grown into 880 acres over the years.
In 1959, a group of businessmen purchased the property from the granddaughter of Goumond. They leased the property as a working cattle ranch. It remained that way until the city of Las Vegas purchased the property in 1964, turning it into a city park and naming it after State Senator Floyd Lamb. This was short-lived as the state of Nevada acquired the property by legislative action in 1977.
When the State saw urban growth around the park, the State believed the park was better as a city park. On July 2, 2007, the State transferred the park back to the hands of the City of Las Vegas. It was renamed to what it is now known today: Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs.
THINGS YOU CAN DO AT THE PARK
Fishing. The park consists of four amazing lakes. From smallest to largest, they are the Willow Lake, Cottonwood Lake, Mulberry Lake, and Tule Springs Lake. For as long as you have a fishing license from the Nevada Department of Wildlife, you are free to fish in all these lakes. One fish you may get there is a rainbow trout!
Enjoy wildlife and amazing scenery. Just the sight of the animals makes this park a must-visit. Some of the wildlife you can see there are mammals like coyotes, foxes, and jackrabbits. You can also see birds and water birds such as peafowl, killdeer, kestrels, tree swallows, mallard duck, burrowing owl, and many more!
Go on a picnic with loved ones. There are designated picnic areas for you and your family in the park. You can celebrate special events such as birthdays. You may reserve a pavilion beforehand.
Visit the historic area. The park consists of 23 buildings. Some of the prominent buildings you can visit are the Ranch House, Adobe Hut, Power Building, and Water Tower. On a side note, Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs also houses the Las Vegas State Tree Nursery.
Participate in programs. Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs also offers programs.
- Pop up parks and recreation are available every third Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
- Gardening and recreation are available from 9:00 am to 10:00 am on Wednesdays and Saturdays; 9:00 am to 11:00 am on Fridays.
- Historic tours are available from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm on Wednesdays and Saturdays; and 12:00 to 2:00 pm on Fridays.
OPERATING HOURS
The park is open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm from April to September; 9:00 am to 5:00 pm from October to March. The park charges $6 entrance fee per vehicle. In an article from the Las Vegas Review-Journal, author Margo Pesek stated that the park charges $1 to those entering on foot, bikes, or horseback. For frequent visitors and senior citizens, she suggested inquiring about annual fees to save money.
