Ice Age Fossils State Park
Ice Age Fossils State Park is a 315-acre state park in North Las Vegas, Nevada, United States, on the northernmost fringe on the metropolitan area. It is located within the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument near Willie McCool Regional Park. History. Ice Age Fossils State Park was announced in January 2017 as part of Governor Brian Sandoval's $15 million "Explore Your Nevada" initiative. The grand opening of the visitor center and overall completion of the park is set to be in winter 2022. The park originally was to be named Tule  Springs State Park, but was named Ice Age Fossils State Park to avoid confusion with the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. The park is located on land that was once wetlands during the Ice Age of Prehistoric Nevada nearly 200,000 years ago. It is the site of archaeological excavations of fossils from animals that became trapped in mud pits, such as Columbian mammoths, American lions, dire wolves, saber-toothed cats, ancient bison, camels, ground sloths, horses, and llamas, found during the 1962–1963 "Big Dig" excavation. Activities and amenities. Ice Age Fossils State Park features a network of trails leading  to fossil beds and archaeological sites. A visitor center with a small museum will open in 2022. Camping and off-roading within the park is prohibited. Vegetation. Rare bear-paw poppies among other endemic plant species can be found within the park.