Nevada / North America / Pic of the Week / Southwestern USA

“Pic of the Week”, November 27, 2015. The Cabins, Valley of Fire State Park

02 Valley of The Fire StateP Park  (107)

These are “The Cabins” in Nevada’s Valley of Fire State Park.  Three small rooms were built from the local sandstone in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), who did a lot of similar work in the parks and remote regions of the country during the Great Depression (‘make work’ projects, like trail and road construction).  These cabins were used by travelers for camping stays in Valley of the Fire, but have been abandoned.  I couldn’t find any good information on how long they were used, but it’s clear when you visit that they’ve not been inhabited for some time.  While the setting is beautiful, I think the summer heat would have been unbearable to many — especially when air conditioned rooms with hot and cold running water are less than an hour’s drive away.  The site is now a picnic area with tables, parking and restrooms.  It’s a popular place for wedding ceremonies and wedding photos.

Valley of Fire State Park was the first state park in Nevada, dedicated in 1935, covering about 42,000 acres (17,000 ha).  It’s just 50 miles (80 km) from Las Vegas and is close to the Lake Mead National Recreation area.  The park gets its name from the beautiful eroded red sandstone which, especially in the light of dawn or dusk, appears to be on fire.

 

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