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
Members Enjoyed Special Hike with U.S. Geological Survey Geologists
On Sunday, February 18, 25 members of the Protectors of Tule Springs enjoyed a special members-only hike of Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument (TUSK) led by geologists Jeff Pigati and Kathleen Springer of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The group was given...
NV Energy $10,000 Donation Kickstarts “Monumental Mammoth” Sculpture Project
Girl Scout’s Design Project Recycles Material from Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument NV Energy has donated $10,000 to the Protectors of Tule Springs, a nonprofit organization that supports the Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument. The donation will...
Local student art recognized to mark National Fossil Day
PROTECTORS OF TULE SPRINGS NEWS RELEASE Oct. 9, 2017 Local student art recognized to mark National Fossil Day Celebration event held at Las Vegas Natural History Museum on Saturday, October 14, 2017 LAS VEGAS – The Las Vegas Natural History Museum, in partnership...
Tule Springs Celebrates New Website
Protectors of Tule Springs would like to thank Dempsey Graphics, and the donors that made the work possible, for our beautiful new website. If you have suggestions or ideas for our website or quarterly newsletter, please feel free to contact us...
Anita Wood Joins Board of Directors
PROTECTORS OF TULE SPRINGS NEWS RELEASE August 31, 2017 Former North Las Vegas City Councilwoman Anita Wood Joins Protectors of Tule Springs Board of Directors LAS VEGAS – The Protectors of Tule Springs, a nonprofit organization that supports...
National Park Service presents Volunteer Stewardship and Partnership Commitment award to Protectors of Tule Springs Board Member
PROTECTORS OF TULE SPRINGS NEWS RELEASE Oct.19, 2016 National Park Service presents Volunteer Stewardship and Partnership Commitment award to Protectors of Tule Springs Board Member Sherri Grotheer and Girls Scouts Troop 41 honored at Get Outdoors Nevada Day On...
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.