Spring Mountain Ranch State Park

A historic 528-acre desert oasis and former celebrity ranch set against the towering red sandstone cliffs of Cottonwood Valley.

Spring Mountain Ranch State Park occupies 528 acres of lush, spring-fed meadows in Cottonwood Valley, positioned beneath the multi-colored Wilson Cliffs. Located at an elevation of 3,700 feet within the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, this historic oasis offers a distinct respite from the surrounding Mojave Desert. The park's green pastures are fed by natural springs emerging from the Keystone Thrust Fault, creating a microclimate that supports mature ash groves, cottonwood trees, and diverse desert wildlife. Historically known as Sandstone Ranch, the property transitioned from a pioneer homestead into a luxurious private retreat, preserving some of the oldest structures in southern Nevada.

The ranch's modern history began in 1876 when Sergeant James B. Wilson and George Anderson established a working cattle ranch. Over the next century, the property passed through a succession of eccentric owners. Willard George, a prominent furrier, raised chinchillas here during the 1930s. In 1944, radio comedian Chester Lauck of the "Lum and Abner" show purchased the land, built the white-fenced ranch house that remains today, and named it the Bar Nothing Ranch. German socialite Vera Krupp acquired the property in 1955, renaming it Spring Mountain Ranch and branding her cattle with a "Diamond V." It was from this ranch house in 1959 that thieves stole Krupp's legendary 33-carat Harry Winston diamond, a stone later bought by Richard Burton for Elizabeth Taylor. Reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes purchased the estate in 1967 through his Hughes Tool Company, utilizing it as a corporate retreat before the state of Nevada acquired the land in 1974 to establish the park.

Today, visitors can explore the preserved 1940s ranch house, which still features Krupp's "Diamond V" brand imprinted in the concrete walkway out back. Walking paths lead past historic structures, including an 1860s blacksmith shop, a board-and-batten cabin, and the Wilson Family Cemetery. The North and South Ash Grove Loops wind through the only native ash grove in southern Nevada, while the Sandstone Canyon Loop provides views of the sheer Aztec sandstone cliffs. Nearby, Lake Harriet serves as a critical refuge for the endangered Pahrump poolfish, a tiny native species successfully reintroduced after a major restoration project cleared the reservoir of invasive predators. On summer evenings, the park's expansive lawn transforms into an open-air venue for the Super Summer Theatre, a local tradition since 1976 that hosts Broadway-style musicals under the desert stars, drawing thousands of spectators who bring blankets and picnics to watch performances against the darkening canyon walls.