Head west of Las Vegas on Blue Diamond Road, and the suburban subdivisions aligned in neat little rows abruptly stop. In their place is a glimpse of what this valley looked like before it filled with casinos and concrete: Joshua trees reaching toward the sky, creosote bushes in knotted clumps, craggy hills with bands of red and tan strata and Bonnie Springs Ranch, a re-creation of an Old West town complete with mock gunfights, a motel, a saloon and a petting zoo.
For decades, the replica of an 1880s mining town in Red Rock Canyon has been a quirky and beloved attraction and an antidote to the Strip's corporate polish, but as the Nevada Current reported earlier this month, a recent proposal submitted to Clark County seeks to redevelop the area into 21 residential properties, along with a restaurant, motel and events barn open to the public. The Las Vegas Sun reported that partners under the name BSR6276 LLC are currently in escrow for the 64-acre property.
The news has drawn an outcry from fans of Bonnie Springs, whose land was developed as a wagon train stop in 1843, according to the attraction's website. A petition to make the property into a historic landmark has accumulated more than 48,000 supporters.
"It is one of the few places I can take my kids where they are guaranteed a great time while still getting a solid dose of history. It is a wonderful place for locals and visitors alike, and we need it to continue to be there," wrote Lisanne A. on the petition website.
Save Red Rock, a local organization focused on "preserving and enhancing the rural, recreational, educational and scientific resources in and around the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area," has fought to preserve the rural character of the area and prevent high-density residential and commercial development. But the current plan for the parcel would maintain its rural zoning and come in well below density limitations.
On its Facebook page, Save Red Rock responded to the news, writing, "As presented, this plan does not seek to change the rural zoning, and Save Red Rock does not oppose a private property owner who is willing to build what he bought and respect Red Rock Canyon's local land-use limitations. We will remain vigilant to assure that any future plans adhere to the rural zoning and the Red Rock Overlay regulations."
The Sun also reported that a third party is interested in purchasing the Bonnie Springs Old Town and relocating it to a new space where it would reopen as a tourist attraction, but details on that buyer and their plan are scarce.