Valley Of Fire State Park Reopens – Here’s What Changed
The most popular state park in Southern Nevada isn’t Spring Mountain Ranch (although it is great) or Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort (which many of us have seen on field trips). Nope, it is Valley Of Fire? It’s been a big bummer the last couple weeks, however. The park was closed to the public as they underwent some renovations. Well, good news! Valley Of Fire State Park has reopened! So, what’s new?
Why Is Valley Of Fire State Park Closed Right Now?
The park isn’t a park with infrastructure, and the park’s infrastructure was taking a beating. Increased visitors combined with repairs, refurbishments and additions that were delayed led to a less than optimal experience at the park.
A new visitor center awaits visitors to Valley Of Fire State Park, along with new bathrooms for people looking to take a legal leak. Working on roads and just generally cleaning up was on the menu.
One of the things that needed cleaning up (and will make your blood boil) was graffiti. It was found on ancient petroglyphs. Where park official can typically use a sandblaster to blast away the crude spray paint drawings from mouth breathers, you can’t quite do that with petroglyphs. So having the park closed to carefully resurrect the original beauty of the ancient drawings was necessary.
Leave No Trace
For people that are new to the whole outdoors, camping thing, there is one thing you’ll hear again and again: leave no trace. There are other things that visitors can do to extend the life and enjoyment of the area.
“Leave no trace” means not to change the ecosystem of the area whatsoever. Don’t damage the infrastructure, don’t step on plants, don’t leave food or wrappers behind.
Valley Of Fire State Park is an absolute jewel. So now that is re-opened, treat it right. And if you see any morons spraypainting over ancient petroglyphs, boo them until they cry.