City of Las Vegas recently issued the following announcement.
In Northwest Las Vegas, you will find a 680-acre oasis rich with tall shade trees, wildlife, lakes, bike and walking trails and historic buildings. According to Diane Siebrandt, Historic Preservation officer for the city of Las Vegas, you will also find fascinating stories on the history of Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs and its significance to Las Vegas.
“It was certainly used by the native population because of the natural springs and that is what makes it so special.” Siebrandt said. “It was also a stagecoach stop on the Bull Frog Mine route until the late 1800’s and early 1900’s.”
But as you stroll around the park there are relics of days gone by. One of the oldest is an adobe hut. It’s believed to date back to 1917 when this was a working ranch. It was not built to be a residence but more likely a blacksmith shop or storage area. Today, you cannot go inside but can get close enough to appreciate the intricate construction of the adobe.
Another popular structure is the Foreman’s House constructed in the 1940’s. It too was built when this was a working ranch. Visitors never stayed in the house, as it was constructed strictly for the foreman and his family. In 2010 it was refurbished by the city of Las Vegas and is used as the park’s visitor’s center and it is a perfect spot for special events such as a visit from Santa during the holidays.
Aside from the park serving as a ranch, there is another slightly scandalous chapter in the history of this land. In the late 1940’s it was not easy to get a divorce in our country that is unless you traveled to Nevada where divorce laws were more lenient. Siebrandt explains how this became the place to stay to establish residency in Nevada in order to get a divorce.
“So this ranch actually started in Reno and came down to Vegas. This ranch along with Lorenzi Park were divorce ranches, Siebrandt said. “It was mainly women and some men who would come here to pay the 6-week fee, stay in guest houses, ride horses, go swimming, hang out with cowboys at night and after 6 weeks you could go file for your divorce and then go back to your state or wherever you wanted to go.
“It’s a very interesting part of Las Vegas history that not many people are aware of.”
Finally, you cannot visit Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs without running into the popular, majestic peacocks that roam freely all around the grassy areas and the lakes. Siebrandt says there’s an interesting story behind their presence.
“In the 1940’S when this property was purchased by a gentleman named Prosper Jacob Goumond, he brought with him cattle and horses and a plethora of birds including peacocks.” Siebrandt said. “Peacocks are actually excellent watch dogs and they will alert you when someone comes onto your property. Some of the birds are actual descendants of those original peacocks that arrived here more than half a century ago.”
There is so much to take in at the park like the wildlife, lakes for fishing and trails for walking and biking. If you’re a history buff the stories born at the park are just one more reason to visit. It is on two historic registers. In 1981 it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and in 2008 the city had it placed on the Las Vegas Register of Historic Places.
Original source can be found here.
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