One of the most historic and storied ranches in Southern Nevada will be jointly preserved and managed as an educational and cultural resource by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM).
UNLV and BLM officials formally announced details of a new cooperative management agreement for the historic Walking Box Ranch during a commemorative signing ceremony today at UNLV.
The Walking Box Ranch was built in 1931 by legendary silent film stars Rex Bell and Clara Bow. Throughout the 1930s, the ranch served as an escape destination for some of the couple's famous Hollywood friends, including Clark Gable, Carole Lombard, Errol Flynn, and Lionel Barrymore. Environmentally, most of the property is designated as critical desert tortoise habitat.
"As our population continues to grow beyond the confines of the Las Vegas Valley, it is critical that we maintain the ecological and cultural integrity of Southern Nevada," said UNLV President Carol C. Harter. "Through this partnership, UNLV and the BLM will work together to not only help promote public appreciation of our local history but also provide a venue to learn more about how we can protect the fragile ecosystems of the Mojave Desert for future generations."
Under the terms of the agreement, UNLV and BLM will cooperatively manage a 40-acre parcel of the Walking Box Ranch to make it available for education and interpretive purposes, including the possibility of the ranch serving as a museum and interpretive center to inform the public about the history of ranching in southern Nevada and ongoing conservation efforts in the area. The agreement was signed by UNLV President Carol C. Harter and BLM Las Vegas Field Manager Juan Palma.
"We are excited about partnering with UNLV to manage this historic property," said Palma. "The historic and cultural values of the ranch will provide first class interpretive and educational opportunities for valley residents. Here in Nevada we are fortunate to have the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) to fund acquisitions such as Walking Box Ranch."
Sen. Harry Reid, who has worked with the state's congressional delegation to preserve Nevada's natural heritage, has fond memories of the ranch as a child growing up in Searchlight. He commended the partnership as a great example of cooperative conservation.
"The Walking Box Ranch has some of the richest history in Nevada," said Reid. "I applaud UNLV and the BLM for their innovative partnership on this project. It is my hope that this partnership will serve as a model for others around the West."
The 160-acre Walking Box Ranch is located approximately seven miles west of Searchlight and is divided into two distinct sections: the 40-acre "headquarters" parcel, which is comprised of a historic ranch house and other ancillary facilities; and an undeveloped 120-acre parcel, which contains critical habitat for the federally listed desert tortoise and more than 300 native species of plants.
Both parcels are protected by conservation easements held by the non-profit conservation organization The Nature Conservancy that maintain the ecological and cultural integrity of the ranch. All proposed projects on the property will strictly adhere to the terms and conditions of the existing easements.
In 2004, the National Park Service awarded UNLV's history department a prestigious "Save America's Treasures" grant to inventory and document the ranch's potential for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The BLM purchased the ranch in April 2005 with funds allocated in Round 3 of SNPLMA. In February, then Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton announced that $17 million in Round 6 SNPLMA funds would be available to develop the public museum/interpretive center as well as a field research and training center.
<b>About SNPLMA</b>
The Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act became law in 1998 and allows the Bureau of Land Management to sell public land within a specific boundary around Las Vegas, Nevada. The revenue derived from land sales is split between the State of Nevada General Education Fund (5%), the Southern Nevada Water Authority (10%), and a special account available to the Secretary of the Interior for parks, trails and natural areas; capital improvements; conservation initiatives; multi-species conservation plans; environmentally sensitive land acquisitions; and Lake Tahoe restoration projects.
<b>About UNLV's Public Lands Institute</b>
UNLV's Public Lands Institute was created in 2005 to work in collaboration with federal, state, and non-profit partners to create new knowledge, advance technology, improve education, and engage the community to enhance public lands stewardship.
