Ice Age Fossils State Park

State park in North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Ice Age Fossils State Park

Location| North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Coordinates| 36°19′07″N 115°12′22″W﻿ / ﻿36.31861°N 115.20611°W﻿ / 36.31861; -115.20611
Area| 315 acres (127 ha)
Established| 2017
Etymology| Ice age-era fossils found in the area
Operated by| Nevada Division of State Parks
Open| Weekends 8am - 4:30pm
Designation| Nevada state park
Website| Official website

Ice Age Fossils State Park is a 315-acre state park in North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, on the northernmost fringe of the metropolitan area. It is located adjacent to the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument near Willie McCool Regional Park. The park saw its grand opening on January 20, 2024.

## History

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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 the park was January 20th, 2024. The park plans on adding to the visitor experience by adding a parking lot with restrooms near the Big Dig Trailhead and building a fossil repository and lab space behind the visitor center. 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.[2]

The park is located on land that was wetlands during the last Ice Age of Prehistoric Nevada between roughly 100,000 to 11,700 years ago. It is the site of excavations of fossils from animals that called this area home, such as Columbian mammoths, American lions, dire wolves, saber-toothed cats, ancient bison, camels, ground sloths, horses, and llamas. These animals and more have been found during the 1962–1963 "Big Dig" excavation and over the 120 year history of scientific exploration in the area.[3][4]

## Vegetation

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Rare bear poppies among other endemic plant species can be found within the park.

## Activities and amenities

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The park features a visitor center and network of trails leading to fossil beds and archaeological sites.

## References

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* United States portal
* Nevada portal

1. ^ "Statement on the Explore Your Nevada Initiative". Nevada State Parks. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
2. ^ Apgar, Blake (September 13, 2018). "Got fossils? New state park in North Las Vegas does". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
3. ^ Cutright, Emerson (July 19, 2020). "Explore One of the Country's Richest Fossil Beds at Ice Age Fossils State Park in Nevada". Only In Your State. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
4. ^ "Ice Age Fossils State Park". Nevada State Parks. Retrieved August 19, 2021.

## External links

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* Ice Age Fossils State Park Nevada State Parks

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