LARGEST NON-GAMING ATTRACTION IN LAS VEGAS CELEBRATES ITS FIRST ANNIVERSARY

05-14-2008

 

Las Vegas Springs Preserve has Entertained and Enlightened Over 200,000 Visitors Since Opening in June 2007

 

Las Vegas, NV – Since opening in June 2007, the Las Vegas Springs Preserve has entertained and educated hundreds of thousands of visitors with Grammy winning artists, award-winning exhibits, and a vision for a sustainable future.  With 180 acres of LEED certified building designs, museums, botanical gardens, galleries, trails and entertainment venues, the Springs Preserve has become a cultural hub for locals as well as for tourists seeking an off-Strip experience.   

“In a city not typically known for its conservation, sustainability and recycling efforts, we are proud to offer such a unique experience to locals and tourists alike,” said General Curator and Director of the Springs Preserve, Jay Nichols.  “We are excited to reach such a milestone and look forward to another successful year.”

Keeping sustainability and conservation in mind, in its first year, the Springs Preserve…

• produced enough electricity from its 2,200 solar panels to power about 80 homes for the whole year
• saved 2,500 cubic yards of landfill space by coordinating, with the support of many community partners, the recycling and mulching of 19,000 Christmas Trees
• saved 6,336,000 gallons of water by replacing sod with artificial grass in the 2,000 seat outdoor amphitheatre

To celebrate a successful first year, the Springs Preserve will host an All-You-Can-Eat Ice Cream Festival on Sunday, June 8 from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.  Activities will include live music by Killian’s Angels and the Pickadillos, performances by Sharon Lynn’s Celtic Storm Dancers, plus behind-the-scenes tours

of the Springs Preserve’s award-winning architecture.  Tickets are $6 and include admission to the museums and galleries.

 

In the past year, the Springs Preserve has been home to a variety of amazing events including the Winter Lights Festival, Cirque du Soleil 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Walk, World Water Day, Southern Nevada Cultural History Fair, and Christmas Tree Recycling Program.  The next year will bring many new and exciting happenings including the opening of the Nevada State Museum, a Haunted Harvest Festival, and more.

 

The two main galleries of the Springs Preserve, the ORIGEN Experience and the Desert Living Center, take visitors on a fascinating journey through Las Vegas history and teach them the latest innovative concepts and tools for living a more eco-friendly lifestyle.

 

People of all ages can enjoy a blend of interactive and educational experiences that are folded into the visitor experience and include an up-close look at a living bat cave, a brush with a live

flash flood, a historic trail walk that passes by a Cienega (desert wetland), or an outdoor cooking demonstration in the botanical gardens. Children can climb aboard a 50-foot rattlesnake replica in the children’s playground, visit the Preserve’s resource library, master one of the many green-themed video games in the New Frontier Gallery or trade in their own artifacts at the Nature Exchange.

 

The largest commercial straw-bale project in the U.S., the Springs Preserve will be the first attraction in the U.S. to achieve the highest designation a building can receive from the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum Certification.  For the Springs Preserve, this translates to incorporating innovative green products into their building designs such as: carpet made from recycled pop bottles, bio-filtration ponds that reclaim on-site wastewater, certified sustainable lumber, rammed earth walls, straw-bale walls, and more.

 

In addition to its green building aspects, the Springs Preserve answers the community’s call for a cultural and educational gathering place on its most treasured national historic site. Thousands of years ago the Pre­­serve was the site of the first water in the valley and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

 

The Springs Preserve is open seven days a week from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas day.  There is an admittance fee to the museums and galleries  but many areas of the Preserve are free including the gardens, trails, resource library, Springs Cafe by Wolfgang Puck, gift shop and children’s playground.  General adult admission is $18.95 with discounts for Nevada residents, seniors, students and youth.  Children under age 5 are free. The Preserve is located at 333 S. Valley View Blvd. For more information, please visit www.springspreserve.org or call 702.822.7700.

About the Springs Preserve

The Springs Preserve is a 180-acre national historic site that is the original oasis of Las Vegas and a beacon for a sustainable future.  This cultural and historic attraction is located three miles from the Strip and offers many indoor and outdoor experiences to create a fun and educational visit for all ages.  Outdoor experiences at the Preserve include 8-acres of botanical gardens, a series of walking trails leading to historical structures and a restored wetlands, live desert wildlife exhibits, a child’s play area, and a 2,000-seat amphitheater.  Indoor experiences include a technologically advanced learning center, over 300 state-of-the art interactive museum exhibits and an immersive theater experience. Award winning LEED architecture and water smart desert landscaping highlight the Preserve's dedication to sustainability. 

 

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