Nevada’s most recent prehistoric exhibit has just opened – the Ice Age Park in North Las Vegas! If you’re interested in the Ice Age, fossils and extinct mammals, this is the place to visit!
Located in North Las Vegas on North Decatur just down from the Clark County Shooting Complex, this 315-acre park features a portion of the upper Las Vegas wash that is rich in both paleontological and historical resources. During the Pleistocene, also known as the Ice Age, the wash provided verdant habitat for several species of now extinct mammals, including Columbian mammoths, American lions, camels, dire wolves, and ground sloths.
The discovery of abundant fossils onsite triggered a long history of scientific research, which includes the famous “Big Dig” of 1962 to 1963, or the Tule Springs Expedition, the largest inter-disciplinary scientific expedition of its kind up to that point.
The Ice Age Park is only open Saturday and Sundays from 8:00am to 4:30pm. The entry fee is $3.00.
There is a gift shop, covered outdoor seating area and restrooms. Be sure to arrive early; the new attraction is very popular! The gates are closed when the park reaches capacity (you may or may not be able to get in later in the day).
Tips: Bring water, layered clothing, sun protection, wear good footwear and make sure your batteries are fully charged – there’s plenty of photo ops!
Visit iafsp@parks.nv.gov for more information.
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