Frommer's Review
By now, perhaps you've learned that "Las Vegas" is Spanish for "the meadows." This facility is set on the 180-acre site of the original springs that fed Las Vegas until it dried in the 1960s. (Told you that Hoover Dam comes in handy.) These days, Las Vegas is an environmental nightmare, along with much of the rest of this planet, and this remarkable recreational attraction is here to educate us about the possibilities to reverse some of the damage.
Set amidst nature and hiking trails, plus man-made wetlands, which is an interesting concept, the focal point is a large interpretive center that gives the history of Las Vegas from a land- and water-use perspective. The displays are creative and interactive, including a room with a reproduction flash flood that uses 5,000 gallons of water and one with a simulation of the experience of working on Hoover Dam. The other buildings are all done according to standards that have the least environmental impact, using modern construction versions of adobe and other green concepts. There are only 30 such structures in the world and seven of them are here. Each building tackles an aspect of desert living and the environment, including one that instructs kids on the glories of recycling, complete with a compost tunnel to crawl through! Other displays focus on environmentally friendly kitchens and bathrooms while the gardens demonstrate environmentally friendly gardening, including a section instructing disabled and older people how to garden despite their physical limitations.
The outdoor kids play area is made from recycled materials and has big animals to climb on, in case they've grown tired about learning responsible stuff. The upcoming cafe menu is to be designed by Wolfgang Puck with further green emphasis. Finally, this will be the eventual location of the Nevada state historical museum. Given the care, knowledge, and urgency of the issues addressed, this is a extraordinary facility for any town but particularly for this one.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without
notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before
planning your trip.
