Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs is a 2,040-acre park in Las Vegas, Nevada. The park is centered on Tule Springs, a series of small lakes 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 circled by development. The park includes the Tule Springs Ranch, Tule Springs Archaeological Site, Tule Springs Wash and four ponds available for fishing. Given the presence of water and riparian habitats, Floyd Lamb Park and the surrounding areas are a magnet for birds, animals and insects of all kinds. The combination of Corn Creek at the Desert Wildlife Preservation Refuge and Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs forms the birding hub for people in the Northwest part of Las Vegas. This is balanced by the opposite birding hub of the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, the Wetlands Park, the Las Vegas Wash and Sunset Park in the southeast of Las Vegas. Depending on your location, most people will do their daily birding nearby, but travel across town (about 45–60 minutes) every few weeks to see what is going on on the other side of town. For people planning a visit, it would be prudent to set aside time to visit both major birding hubs. Of course, for those with the time, there are many additional birding locations that can be very productive at the right time of year.
Tule Springs Ranch
The first establishment at Tule Springs may have been the U.S. Hotel owned by a Mr. Levandowski (around 1905). In 1916 a Mormon settler, Bert Nay, filed for water rights on the site. Nay sold the ranch to Gilbert Hefner in 1928, who owned the property until 1941 when he sold it to Sheriff Gene Ward, who in turn sold it to Prosper Jacob Goumond. Most of the buildings on the ranch date from the 1940s, when Goumond was developing the Tule Springs Ranch into a “divorce ranch.” The Water Tower is one of the most prominent buildings in the historic area of the Park. It is the tallest structure and one of the first constructed during Goumond’s ownership of the ranch.
Floyd Lamb Park Map
This beautiful place is home to 680 acres of a gorgeous park filled with lush vegetation, beautiful views of the lake, mountain ranges in the distance, and loads of birds and other wildlife for you to enjoy and appreciate. The developed sections are balanced by more undeveloped but still beautiful desert plants and ecosystems. The Park Core includes recreation facilities, the historic Tule Springs Ranch, and two private equestrian facilities, operated by one equestrian company, which lease land for stables, fenced training areas, and offices.
Tule Springs Lake
Four small lakes and plenty of trees attract birds year-round. Great Blue Herons and Black-crowned Night-Herons nest at Tule Springs Lake, the park’s largest body of water. Other breeding species include Ruddy Duck, Cooper’s Hawk, Phainopepla, and Abert’s Towhee. Migrants such as Yellow-breasted Chat, MacGillivray’s Warbler, and Cassin’s Vireo pass through in spring and fall.
The Other Lakes
There are four lakes at the park that are stocked for fishing. Tule Springs Lake is the largest of the lakes in the park followed by, Mulberry Lake, then Cottonwood Lake, and then Desert Willow Lake. There are a nice collection of both domestic and wild geese and ducks at most times of the year. The collection of birds is much like that of Sunset Park with cormorants, geese and ducks during all but the hottest times of summer. Climate change has significantly affected the lakes in our parks in Las Vegas. The heat has killed many of the fish in Sunset Park, even though the Parks Department continues to stock fish, and I suspect something similar is true for Floyd Lamb Park, although I really have no direct knowledge of the fishing conditions at Floyd Lamb Park.
Fishing at Floyd Lamb Park
The lack of fish doesn’t keep people from teaching their kids how to fish. You have to have a state fishing license to go fishing here though.
Pine Tree Grove/Murder Victims Memorial Grove
Approximately 15 years ago, a memorial tree grove was begun in Floyd Lamb Park, south of Mulberry Lake and east of Willow Lake, to serve as a place where families of murder victims could plant trees in memory of loved ones. The tree grove has been maintained by State Parks staff and by the families. An obelisk near a sitting area designates the location and significance of the tree grove. Small plaques near the planted trees recognize the names of the deceased. When the Park is transfered into city ownership, the memorial tree grove will continue to be main- tained by the City of Las Vegas. The Pinegrove can be a good area for birding, especially in fall winter and spring.
Group Picnic Area #5
The unimproved area surrounding the park are some of the most productive for birding. As is the case throughout the valley, and everywhere else, the best birding is at sunrise. Results will vary by the season, summer is slower, but you can find interesting birds through the year. Floyd Lamb Park is truly one of the most attractive and stunning hideaways in all of Las Vegas. Do yourself a huge favor and make it a point to visit this stunning place the next time you’re in Las Vegas or if you plan to visit in the near future.
Burrowing Owls
Since 2008, the local Audubon chapter, Red Rock Audubon Society, has been installing artificial nesting burrows for Burrowing Owls at several sites in southern Nevada. So far, 33 burrows have been installed at Floyd Lamb Park, and many young have fledged.
How to Get to Floyd Lamb Park
To get to Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, you need to take either Interstate 95 or Interstate 215 to Durango in Centennial Hills. Keep going on Durango about 2 miles off the freeway to Brent Lane. Keep going to the toll booth for the park. There is a $6 per vehicle entrance fee. A Household Yearly Pass, priced at $50 for ages through 49, and a Senior Household Yearly Pass, priced at $25 for seniors ages 50+, are available for sale online and at the park entrance gatehouse. Floyd Lamb Park hours are, in the summer months (April–September) are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and in the winter months (October–March) 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
References:
Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs Website
Floyd Lamb Park – City of Las Vegas
Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, Las Vegas, Nevada: Birdwatching Magazine