Construction began this month on the Tufa Trail, the first permanent, accessible recreational trail within Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (TUSK), thanks to a unique partnership among the City of North Las Vegas, D.R. Horton, and the Protectors of Tule Springs, in coordination with the National Park Service.
The more than 3-mile crushed granite trail will be ADA accessible and feature bilingual signage and exhibits. It is the result of an agreement the four partners collaborated on nearly a decade ago to ensure urban gateways to the National Monument.
“This project demonstrates the power public-private partnerships can have in enhancing our quality of life.The trail will offer a safe, beautiful place to get outside while preserving the incredible natural resource that is the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument,” said North Las Vegas Mayor Pro Tem Scott Black. “We are proud to work alongside our partners at the National Park Service, D.R. Horton, and Protectors of Tule Springs to make these public lands more accessible for residents and visitors alike.”
D.R. Horton, the residential developer in the area, will contribute more than $2.4 million to construct the trailbed, as part of their land development plan. This commitment to provide designated recreational spaces within the monument will aid NPS in protecting the integrity of the surrounding sensitive land.
“From the beginning, our vision at D.R. Horton was to create more than just homes. We wanted to help shape a community that values both livability and legacy,” said Tim Colbert, D.R. Horton Regional Vice President. “The Tufa Trail extends that vision, linking the neighborhoods to the incredible landscape and history of Tule Springs.”
Protectors of Tule Springs, the official philanthropic partner of TUSK, sought and secured additional funding to complete the Tufa Trail through the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program (RTP). In May, Protectors was awarded a 2025 RTP grant of $71,457.60 that will provide interpretive and wayfinding signage on this multiuse trail, including bilingual exhibits, tactile models and maps.
Protectors also manages a non-depleting endowment fund of more than a million dollars, the income from which supports the rehabilitation and protection of the surrounding habitat to ensure its integrity and to provide an optimal recreational experience.
“We are really excited for this important next step in the development of TUSK,” said Protectors president Sherri Grotheer. “It’s gratifying to see the vision we’ve had for this area coming to fruition. Inviting the public to explore these public lands and ensuring they are accessible to all is a key focus of the Protectors’ mission. We’re grateful for the contribution and commitment of the City and DR Horton to helping meet our goals.”
Tufa is the remains of ancient streams which once flowed freely in the Las Vegas Wash. As the climate in this area changed over thousands of years, particulates in the stream that had collected around grasses and roots fossilized, leaving behind a record of their path.
“Our organization was formed almost 20 years ago and was responsible for the designation of this National Monument in 2014,” said Protectors’ founding member and vice president Sandy Croteau. “Our amazing volunteers have worked very hard to protect this land and specifically to preserve the tufa in this area. We are proud to play an important part of the first permanent trail at the park.”
The trail is expected to open in 2027.
Pictured left to right: Johanna Murphy – North Las Vegas Principal Planner, Kori Kloberdanz – Protectors of Tule Springs Director, Erin Eichenberg – National Park Service Acting Superintendent, Jeff Stevens – D.R. Horton Director of Entitlements/forward Planning, Will Harty – North Las Vegas Assistant City Manager, Robert Eastman – North Las Vegas Planning Manager, Councilman Scott Black – North Las Vegas Ward 3, Doug Guild – North Las Vegas Director of Parks and Recreation,Chris Foley – D.R. Horton Division Vice President of Land, Sherri Grotheer – Protectors of Tule Springs President, Kevin Sullivan, D.R. Horton Division Vice President of Land Development, Sandy Croteau – Protectors of Tule Springs Vice President, Dev Basudev – National Park Service Maintenance
Cover photo (top of page) pictured left to right: Will Harty – North Las Vegas Assistant City Manager, Johanna Murphy – North Las Vegas Principal Planner, Robert Eastman – North Las Vegas Planning Manager, Lauren Parry-Joseph, Ph.D. – National Park Service Park Ranger, Doug Guild – North Las Vegas Director of Parks and Recreation, Sherri Grotheer – Protectors of Tule Springs President, Councilman Scott Black – North Las Vegas Ward 3, Erin Eichenberg – National Park Service Acting Superintendent, Sandy Croteau – Protectors of Tule Springs Vice President, Kevin Sullivan – D.R. Horton Division Vice President of Land Development, Chris Foley – D.R. Horton Division Vice President of Land, , Kori Kloberdanz – Protectors of Tule Springs Director, Jeff Steven – D.R. Horton Director of Entitlements/Forward Planning, Dev Basudev – National Park Service Maintenance
About the City of North Las Vegas:
Incorporated in 1946, the City of North Las Vegas is leading the way in innovation and growth, where residents and businesses find opportunities to thrive. Home to nearly 300,000 residents, North Las Vegas is both the largest minority-majority city in Nevada and the fastest growing city in the state. The city’s approach to move at the speed of business has made it a top destination in the country for new job creation and economic diversification that attracts global brands, innovative industries, manufacturing, e-commerce and logistics centers. Follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram and
About D.R. Horton:
D.R. Horton, “America’s Builder,” has been building families beautiful homes in desirable locations for over 46 years. America’s largest homebuilder by volume since 2002, D.R. Horton has built more than 1,200,000 homes with quality, functionality, value and style in mind. For more information about D.R. Horton’s Las Vegas division, please call 702-501-6301 or visit www.drhorton.com/
About Protectors of Tule Springs:
Protectors of Tule Springs is a 501(c)(3) based in Las Vegas. In 2006, a small group of North Las Vegas residents joined together to raise awareness of the need to protect important fossil deposits against planned urban development. Together, along with community supporters, they helped spur legislation to create the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. The mission of the Protectors is to protect, preserve, support and promote responsible stewardship of Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument and Ice Age Fossils State Park. For more information about the mission, work and volunteers of Protectors of Tule Springs, visit protectorsoftulesprings.