Ice Age Fossils State Park
| Ice Age Fossils State Park | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | State park |
| Location | 8660 North Decatur Boulevard, North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States 89085 |
| Coordinates | 36°19′07″N 115°12′22″W / 36.31861°N 115.20611°WCoordinates: 36°19′07″N 115°12′22″W / 36.31861°N 115.20611°W |
| Area | 315 acres (127 ha) |
| Created | 2017 |
| Etymology | Ice age-era fossils found in the area |
| Operated by | State of Nevada |
| Website | Ice Age Fossils State Park |
Ice Age Fossils State Park is a 315-acre state park in North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, on the northernmost fringe on the metropolitan area. It is located within the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument near Willie McCool Regional Park.
History[]
Ice Age Fossils State Park was announced in January 2017 as part of Governor Brian Sandoval's $15 million "Explore Your Nevada" initiative.[1] The grand opening of the visitor center and overall completion of the park is set to be in winter 2022.[2] The park originally was to be named Tule Springs State Park, but was named Ice Age Fossils State Park to avoid confusion with the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument.[3]
The park is located on land that was once wetlands during the Ice Age of Prehistoric Nevada nearly 200,000 years ago. It is the site of archaeological excavations of fossils from animals that became trapped in mud pits, such as Columbian mammoths, American lions, dire wolves, saber-toothed cats, ancient bison, camels, ground sloths, horses, and llamas, found during the 1962–1963 "Big Dig" excavation.[4][5]
Activities and amenities[]
Ice Age Fossils State Park features a network of trails leading to fossil beds and archaeological sites. A visitor center with a small museum will open in 2022. Camping and off-roading within the park is prohibited.[2]
Vegetation[]
Rare bear-paw poppies among other endemic plant species can be found within the park.[2]
References[]
- ^ "Statement on the Explore Your Nevada Initiative". Nevada State Parks. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ a b c "Ice Age Fossils State Park". Travel Nevada. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ Apgar, Blake (13 September 2018). "Got fossils? New state park in North Las Vegas does". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ Cutright, Emerson (19 July 2020). "Explore One Of The Country's Richest Fossil Beds At Ice Age Fossils State Park In Nevada". Only In Your State. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
- ^ "Ice Age Fossils State Park". Nevada State Parks. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
 | This Nevada-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by . |
- Parks in Nevada
- Parks in Clark County, Nevada
- State parks of Nevada
- Paleontology in Nevada
- Nevada stubs