Our Mission
Protecting, preserving, supporting and promoting responsible stewardship of Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument and Ice Age Fossils State Park.
Upcoming Events
TUSK TURNS 10!
Please join Protectors of Tule Springs as we celebrate the 10-Year Anniversary of Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument! Event will be held on December 19, 2024, 5;30-8:00pm, at the Los Prados Golf Club, 5150 Los Prados Circle, Las Vegas, Nevada.
The celebration includes a special guest speaker from the National Park Service, the unveiling of a limited-edition art series, the debut of a new musical about Nevada’s paleontological wonders and amazing silent auction items!
Space is limited – purchase tickets here. Please visit the Events Calendar for additional information.
Our Story
Protectors of Tule Springs was informally founded in 2006 in an effort to preserve the last of the undeveloped portions of the Upper Las Vegas Wash basin in the northwest portion of the Las Vegas Valley.
In the early 2000s, those areas were proposed as a disposal area for the further development of the cities of Las Vegas and North Las Vegas, and unincorporated Clark County. During a meeting held to finalize the proposed disposal of these lands, a small group of citizens became aware of the unique paleontological and biological resources that would be forever lost to more roads, housing and commercial development should the proposed disposal boundary be approved.
This small group of North Las Vegas residents began an 8-year effort to forever protect what was nearly lost.
Protectors of Tule Springs became a formal non-profit corporation and recognized 501(c)(3) charitable organization in 2012.
Monumental Mammoth Sculpted from Recycled Desert Trash
Southern Nevada now has an iconic, life-sized Columbian Mammoth sculpture, inspired by the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument! The Monumental Mammoth is now permanently installed at Ice Age Fossils State Park, standing as a symbol of Nevada's Pleistocene past and enhancing the visitors' experience for years to come!
News About Protectors
Our Next Membership Meeting is for the Birds!
The next Protectors of Tule Springs membership meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 31st. The meeting will be held from 6:00-7:30 p.m. at the Sun City Aliante Clubhouse, 7390 Aliante Parkway. The agenda will include updates by personnel from Tule Springs Fossil Beds...
It’s Time to Hit the Trail at TUSK!
The Aliante Loop Temporary Trail is now open at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (TUSK)! Follow the markers to navigate the roughed-in trail to waypoints with QR codes linking to interpretative content of the sights along the 3.25 miles of desert terrain....
Unbridled Passion for our Park: Meet the Horse Patrol!
Do you like horses, yay or neigh? Well the Protectors sure do! Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (TUSK) recently launched the Tule Springs Fossil Beds Mounted Horse Patrol Volunteer Program to complement and expand park services to the front country trails....
Our Dogs Are BARKing!
As part of a National Park Service program, Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument had a swearing in ceremony in February for a very special pack of volunteers – our B.A.R.K. Rangers! The B.A.R.K. Rangers’ commitment includes: Bag your pet’s waste Always leash...
Welcome to our New TUSK Superintendent!
We were thrilled to see this news release about the new TUSK superintendent issued by the National Park Service on May 6. Welcome Superintendent Carter! The National Park Service has selected Derek Carter to serve as the superintendent of Tule Springs Fossil Beds...
May Membership Meeting CANCELED
MEETING CANCELED The Protectors of Tule Springs membership meeting scheduled for May 26, 2020 has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and hope all of the Protectors and their families are staying safe and well. To reach us for any reason,...
Partnerships and Support
Protectors’ public awareness campaign evolved into a partnership with a diverse group of organizations and a broad base of public support. Managed by the National Park Service, the effort to make this area a national monument attracted the unanimous support of local elected officials, the United States Air Force, the Las Vegas Paiute tribe, tourism industry leaders, educators, scientists, conservation organizations and community groups. In addition, thousands of citizens registered their support.
Four local government entities – the Clark County Commission, the Las Vegas Mayor and Council, the North Las Vegas Mayor and Council, and the Tribal Council of the Las Vegas Paiute Tribe – voted on and unanimously passed a resolution in November 2009 asking Congress to make Tule Springs a part of the National Park System.