Southern Nevada history on display firsthand at Clark County Museum

Henderson, Nev.

The Clark County Museum is home to various artifacts, preserved buildings, and an area where visitors can explore Southern Nevada's history firsthand.

"You can go through our history from prehistorical times to our current events in Southern Nevada," said acting Clark County Museum administrator Amber Colbert.

The museum is on 30-acres of land and located in Henderson, just off of Boulder Highway.

It's about a 30-minute drive from the Las Vegas Strip and a perfect stop on the way to Boulder City.

The Clark County Museum is the oldest historical museum in the valley and is still going strong after getting its start here several decades ago.

"We started in 1968, and the city of Henderson gave this land to the museum, and it started with the Boulder City Depot building," Colbert said.

Visitors are first welcomed to the Anna Roberts Parks exhibit. She was an avid collector, and her exhibit hall takes visitors through a timeline of Southern Nevada history.

"The Anna Parks Exhibit Hall shows the different artifacts over the years, and it is a timeline of Southern Nevada events. Starting in prehistoric times, to Native American, ranches, railroads to our current events like gaming, hotels and the 1 Oct. display where our community showed strength in coming together after that incident," Colbert said.

One of the most interesting parts of the museum is its Heritage Street, a tree-lined avenue with eight historic structures from Southern Nevada that were all relocated to the museum.

"We have Heritage Street, where we moved buildings from all over Nevada to persevere them, and visitors can now experience how living was in Nevada was through the different decades. We even have an old chapel from Las Vegas Boulevard where guests can experience what it was before," Colbert said.

Among the buildings is the 1912 Beckley House, a Las Vegas structure relocated from the downtown area.

Walking down the street, guests can also see a print shop and a wedding chapel that were all moved over the years and are now open for self-guided tours.

"Walking through is kinda like stepping back in time -- making that connection to the community of where we live now. One of those homes was the Beckley house, built back in 1912, and the home still has furnishings from that era where guests can step back into that time," Colbert said.

Another real-life display at the museum is the 1932 Boulder City Depot. The collection of railroad cars include a real 1918 Union Pacific steam engine, along with a few other items from the 1930s.

"The railroad yard has been restored to its original Boulder City look where guests can be taken back to that 1930s train depot feel," Colbert said.

The museum costs visitors $2 for adults and $1 for children. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with fall being one of the best times to visit.

"Spring and the fall are the best times to visit. We are getting to that perfect time of year temperature-wise, and mornings are also the best, with wildlife easy to spot," Colbert said.

Looking ahead, the museum will be adding to its displays with a new exhibit coming online soon that will house more of the 1 October items from that time.

"We will have all of 1 October museum articles on display with shelves helping to display the crosses along with all of the items that were on Las Vegas Boulevard. So, the items can be preserved for the future," Colbert said.

Where changes are constant nowadays, the Clark County Museum is a place to explore the rich and colorful history of where we call home in Southern Nevada.

Pinball Hall of Fame helping add nostalgia to Las Vegas Strip

Las Vegas

All it takes is one look around when inside the Pinball Hall of Fame and you know the place is one-of-a-kind in Las Vegas.

In a city of entertainment, the Pinball Hall of Fame stands alone when it comes to bringing you back to a simpler time of entertainment.

Owner Tim Arnold is the man behind the concept who helps brings all of the machines to life.

"We are the real last arcade in America. We literally have everything with games going back to the 30s. So, no matter what you grew up on it's here," Arnold said.

The Pinball Hall of Fame is not a stop on the Big Bus Tours of the world but it has been a local favorite now for nearly 15 years.

And like several things in town, the hall of fame has upgraded itself but the main attraction remains and that's the games of skill.

"My definition of a game is something you can approve at. Something you can use strategy and skill to obtain a goal. We strictly have games of skill going back to the 1930s," Arnold said.

The Pinball Hall of Fame has recently moved to its new $10 million digs across from the “Welcome to Las Vegas” sign on Las Vegas Boulevard.

"It's three times the size of our old place on Tropicana. It's more spacious and really a nice place. You're going to see a lot more games as we have a lot more going on than before.," Arnold said.

Arnold has come a long way from buying his first machine in high school where everything just kind of took off.

"I started in gumball machines in 1969 and got my first pinball machine in high school and it all grew from there. So, here I am with more pinball machines. We currently have 350 machines and eventually hope to get up to 700," Arnold said.

Currently, the hall of fame has just about everything from your arcade days ranging from a 1933 jigsaw puzzle to a new machine based on one of the newest members of the new Star Wars galaxy.

"The most popular machines are always the newest ones and right now that's the 'Mandalorian' pinball machine but we have classic games from every era with some of the best and some of the worst," Arnold said.

All pinball machines remain a quarter and gamers can even find more options on the floor.

"We have the original Pac-Man game, the original Galaxia. We've got old shooting games and odd arcade games, including games from the Jersey Shore," Arnold said.

And the work to keep all the bells and lights going? Arnold says it's him and a staff of volunteers to thank.

"It's constant work to keep the machines going. We create workarounds as there are no parts. And these machines were only meant to last five years or so and we have saved about a thousand of them and we are working on getting them going," Arnold. said.

Also, the Arnolds like to give back to the community by trying to help people in need in Southern Nevada.

"We are a not-for-profit and we are all volunteers. Once we are out of debt a bit from the move we are going to be giving back yet again to our local charities," Arnold said.

The Pinball Hall of Fame will bring you back to your own arcade days while helping share those times with new generations.

And it is an easy find in the center of town on Las Vegas Boulevard and Russell Road.

Gilcrease Orchard remains fall destination for Las Vegas families

Las Vegas

Fall has arrived, and that means not only a change in weather but also a change in seasons at the Gilcrease Orchard.

The 60-acre orchard is an easy 30-minute drive from the center of town to northwest Las Vegas where you'll find it on Tenaya Way and Grand Teton Drive.

"The orchard is about 100 years old. The Gilcreases turned it into an orchard back in the 1970s. We have 30 different vegetables, and it's a great way to learn where your food comes from," said Gilcrease Orchard Director Mark Ruben.

The drive not only takes visitors away from the Las Vegas Strip, but the orchard takes you out of the typical desert landscape.

"We are very unique here and blessed with good soil. The area used to be a wash, and we are blessed to have this still be an orchard," Ruben said

Visitors can pick fresh produce themselves throughout the year, along with several more options during the fall.

"We have pumpkins, apple cider, apple cider doughnuts and apple pickings starting Saturday," Ruben said.

For the first time, the orchard is opening a corn maze this year. Management says the team was able to change out a previous straw maze just in time for autumn.

"We have a new acre corn maze. It should take about six minutes to get through for the average person, and we used to just have a straw maze," Ruden said.

And what's fall without a good pumpkin? The orchard is opening a community favorite on Sept. 25, and that's its pumpkin patch!

"You can pick your own pumpkins. From the regulars to white pumpkins to even pink and gray pumpkins that are great for baking," Ruben said.

Plus, fall fruit such as white pomegranates have been pre-pricked by crews and are available for purchase with more varieties on the way.

"We have white pomegranates available now with the red available in mid-October, and starting Saturday, guests can pick pumpkins, cucumbers, sunflowers, along with more at the checkout stand," Ruben said.

And even though the temperatures may drop, the sun is still shining, and sunflowers are in full bloom.

"We have a lot of sunflowers, thousands of sunflowers. They are $2 each, and it's good to bring your own bring own cutting device. They are very beautiful," Ruben said.

The orchard also makes its own apple cider from apples grown on-site. The cider is 100% juice and is available for purchase.

"Our apple cider is made from 100% Gala apples. So, it's on the sweeter side. And we normally run out of the cider towards the end of October," Ruben said.

And are you looking for something sweet to eat? Management says its famous apple cider doughnuts are back for the season.

"Our doughnuts are very popular. We make full-sized doughnuts now. They just taste better and start at $6 for a standard six-count of the cinnamon sugar," Ruben said.

The orchard starts its fall season hours at the end of September, which means 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

There are no entrance fees, and earlier the better is still recommended when it comes to visiting.

"If you want the best fall experience, come in the morning. If you want the summer experience, come in the afternoon. And if you arrive very early or very late, you'll do a bit better," Ruben said.

Keep the orchard in mind during your next grocery run, and even better, add it to the family schedule of places to visit in Las Vegas.

Wetlands Park remains 'hidden gem' for hikers, bird watchers in Clark County

Las Vegas,

The Clark County Wetlands Park is nearly 3,000 acres in size and the largest park in the county.

But even with its size, it remains a hidden gem off of East Tropicana Avenue and Wetlands Park Lane.

"We are still a little bit of a secret in the Las Vegas valley. We are the largest park as part of Clark County Parks and Recreation. We have a 210-acre nature preserve with lots of trails to experience and maybe see some wildlife as well," said Ben Jurand, an environmental specialist with the Clark County Wetlands Park.

The park started back in 1991 and has become a major recreational and educational resource in the valley.

The park serves as a popular destination for hikers, bird watchers and is an important part of our water system in Southern Nevada.

"The Wetlands Park is created by all of the water that is used in the Las Vegas valley. The Las Vegas Wash is the main part of the Wetlands Park. That is our urban river. And we collect all of the water from the Las Vegas valley," Jurand said.

Wetlands Park features more than 20 miles of trails, including six miles within the Nature Preserve which is the heart of the park at 210 acres.

"In the nature preserve section, we have six miles of trails. We don't allow dogs or bikes on the nature trail, so we can help protect the animals along with guests to see wildlife," Jurand said.

Some of the popular sights in the nature preserve include the Cottonwood Grove, Boardwalk Pond and Vern's Pond & Island.

"We have several distinct types of habitats and some that you don't normally see in the Mojave desert. We also have very tall trees in the nature preserve area where all of the running water is, and we have recreated all of the natural habitat," Jurand said.

The area has three distinct habitats and miles of paved and unpaved trails, where visitors can escape the city and the desert.

"For those visiting the park, I would recommend visiting the nature preserve as there is a lot to see in just a small area. Each of the different habitats has their own plants and animals to see. There are several areas to explore," Jurand said.

The park is home to more than 300 species of birds and numerous mammals and reptiles have been spotted in the park.

"We have all kinds of wildlife in the park from coyotes to roadrunners to even a few non-venomous snakes and beavers who enjoy making their home with the water," Jurand said.

There is also a 14-mile Wetlands Loop Trail that runs along the park's perimeter, where work is ongoing to complete its full connection.

And several of the park's trails are accessible throughout the eastern part of town - including the Duck Creek Trailhead with shrubs, grass and trees.

"There is a lot to see at Wetlands Park. We have so much water that helps all of the trees and habitats within the park. Visitors say they forget that they are in the desert with being able to experience nature," Jurand said.

Wetlands Park is open year-round to guests and should be included in your outdoor activities in Las Vegas.

Vegas sportsbooks offer million-dollar payouts to bettors during football season

Las Vegas, Nev.

Sports betting is no longer something just done in Las Vegas, but the Vegas line is still the standard.

Wagering on sports has come a long way from your neighborhood bookie and Las Vegas sportsbooks continue to raise the ante.

"When we opened Circa, we opened the world's largest sportsbook and thought we need to bring the world's largest football contest with it," said Circa Resort CEO Derek Stevens.

Stevens has gone all-in on sports betting by opening the Circa sportsbook and welcoming thousands into his football contests.

"The TVs in the sportsbook make you feel like you are at the game. We are excited about football, excited about our football contests, and it's just another great reason to visit Las Vegas," Stevens said.

And Stevens is guaranteeing a prize pool of at least $4 million in his Circa Sports Million football betting contest.

"Contestants pick five teams a week against the point spread and we are guaranteeing a $4 million prize in the Circa Millions with a $1,000 entry fee. We want people to come to sportsbook," Stevens said.

Every year sportsbooks offer football fans the chance to become potential millionaires with their selections against the book.

And Circa Sports is offering two chances at such a payday.

"Our second contest is the Circa Survivor with a $6 million prize. You just have to pick one game a week against the spread, but you cannot select that same team again. So, it can get tricky through the season," Stevens said.

The longest-running football handicapping contest is the SuperContest at the Westgate Las Vegas.

This year marks the 33rd year of the contest, and SuperBook executive vice president Jay Kornegay says there are even more ways to win this year.

"We have gone from four in-season contests to nine. So, even after a rough week, contestants are still in the game throughout the season with payouts up to $100,000," Kornegay said.

The SuperContest has paid a top prize of $1.5 million in the past, with this year's contestants continuing to enter.

"We have an entry fee of $1,000 now with 100% payback. We are looking at around 2,000 contests in the field with a grand prize payout of around $500,000," Kornegay said.

And not to be outdone, Station Casinos is bringing back its Last Man Standing contest where another $1 million is up for grabs.

"Football season is here and so is our signature Last Man Standing contests. It's a $25 entry fee for both college and pro with $150,000 for pro and $100,000 college top prizes," said Red Rock Resort sportsbook director Chuck Esposito.

Station's Last Man Standing offers sports fans the chance to pick college and pro games throughout the season.

"If the lucky person takes both contests and signs up by Sept. 6, they can get a bonus of $750,000 – making it a cool $1 million total," Esposito said.

No matter your betting style Las Vegas has you covered, and with a few selections and, of course, some betting luck, you could be the next millionaire in town.