Just outside of the city of Las Vegas is a little known, but becoming more popular, state park. Spring Mountain Ranch is located in the Red Rock Canyon, between west Summerlin and Blue Diamond (off of highway 160). Originally inhabited by the Paiute Indians who were drawn there by the many springs....it touts 520 acres of hiking trails, a visitor center, a group use area, and an outdoor theater

The park is open from 9am to dusk, the visitor center from 10am to 4pm offers tours at noon, 1pm and 2pm, with a 3pm one added on weekends. Entrance costs are nominal. The Theater is $15 inclusive of entrance fee....or $10 if purchased at a group rate beforehand.

The Super Summer Theater sponsors performances in the outdoor theater in June, July, and August. The "Theater under the Stars" features musicals and plays for the whole family. We recently had the opportunity to spend an evening in the park with several friends. We packed picnic lunches, toted lawn chairs and blankets, and made ourselves comfy visiting, watching the sunset, and enjoying the musical rendition of '1776'. No sun and a higher elevation (3,800 feet)

made for a much cooler evening than on the 'ground floor' of the valley of Las Vegas.

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