Floyd Lamb State Park
Encyclopedia
Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs is a 2040 acres (825.6 ha) park
in Las Vegas
, Nevada
. The park is centered around Tule Springs
, a series of small lake
s that formed an oasis
in this part of the Mojave Desert
. One of the larger urban retreats in the Las Vegas Valley, Tule Springs
was once considered to be far out of town but is now encroached by development. The park includes the Tule Springs Ranch
, Tule Springs Archaeological Site
, Tule Springs Wash and four ponds available for fishing.
visitors in the pre-Columbian period. More recently, it served as a guest ranch
for out-of-state residents seeking to "live" in Nevada and gain access to its easy divorce
requirements.
The springs was first designated as a park when it was acquired by the city of Las Vegas
in 1964. It was renamed Floyd Lamb State Park in 1977 when the state assumed control. The park was named for former Nevada state senator Floyd Lamb
, who was later convicted of taking a $23,000 bribe from an undercover FBI agent in 1983.
The city took control of the park for a second time when the legislature and state in 2005 agreed to release control and ownership of Floyd Lamb State Park to the City of Las Vegas. The park was transferred to the city, on July 2, 2007 and renamed to Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs. In addition to the park, the city received control of 1300 acres (5 km²) of Bureau of Land Management
land.
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
. The park is centered around Tule Springs
Tule Springs
Tule Springs in Las Vegas, Nevada, is one of the larger urban retreats in the Las Vegas Valley. It is a significant desert ecosystem consisting of a series of small lakes that formed an oasis in this part of the Mojave Desert...
, a series of small lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
s that formed an oasis
Oasis
In geography, an oasis or cienega is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source...
in this part of the Mojave Desert
Mojave Desert
The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of southeastern California and smaller parts of central California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah and northwestern Arizona, in the United States...
. One of the larger urban retreats in the Las Vegas Valley, Tule Springs
Tule Springs
Tule Springs in Las Vegas, Nevada, is one of the larger urban retreats in the Las Vegas Valley. It is a significant desert ecosystem consisting of a series of small lakes that formed an oasis in this part of the Mojave Desert...
was once considered to be far out of town but is now encroached by development. The park includes the Tule Springs Ranch
Tule Springs Ranch
Tule Springs Ranch and the remaining buildings are listed as a district on the United States National Register of Historic Places in Las Vegas, Nevada. Part of the area is included in the Tule Springs Archaeological Site and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places...
, Tule Springs Archaeological Site
Tule Springs Archaeological Site
Tule Springs Archaeological Site is an archeological site listed on the National Register of Historic Places that is located in the Las Vegas Valley of Nevada...
, Tule Springs Wash and four ponds available for fishing.
History
The area was home to several Native AmericanNative Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
visitors in the pre-Columbian period. More recently, it served as a guest ranch
Ranch
A ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
for out-of-state residents seeking to "live" in Nevada and gain access to its easy divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
requirements.
The springs was first designated as a park when it was acquired by the city of Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
in 1964. It was renamed Floyd Lamb State Park in 1977 when the state assumed control. The park was named for former Nevada state senator Floyd Lamb
Floyd Lamb
Floyd R. Lamb was a Democratic member of the Nevada Senate from 1956 to 1983. From 1946 to 1956, Lamb joined the Lincoln County Commission until he was elected to the senate....
, who was later convicted of taking a $23,000 bribe from an undercover FBI agent in 1983.
The city took control of the park for a second time when the legislature and state in 2005 agreed to release control and ownership of Floyd Lamb State Park to the City of Las Vegas. The park was transferred to the city, on July 2, 2007 and renamed to Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs. In addition to the park, the city received control of 1300 acres (5 km²) of Bureau of Land Management
Bureau of Land Management
The Bureau of Land Management is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers America's public lands, totaling approximately , or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. The BLM also manages of subsurface mineral estate underlying federal, state and private...
land.